As new protocols begin launching on Metis Hyperion, we’re seeing more projects experiment with whitelist campaigns to build early momentum and engage their communities.
One example is LazAI, which is currently running its own whitelist campaign. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on what actually makes a whitelist campaign successful—and why some campaigns take off while others quietly fade out.
From both a builder and community perspective, a few key factors seem to make all the difference:
Things That Seem to Work Well:
- Clear value for participants (airdrops, early access, XP, etc.)
- Low-friction tasks – no one wants to complete 25 steps just to enter
- Strong storytelling – not just “join our list,” but why your project matters
- Engaging formats – quests, meme contests, referrals, etc.
- Good timing – campaigns tied to real launches, not just hype-building
- Community-first vibes – people support campaigns that feel authentic, not extractive
Things That Turn People Off:
- Endless “follow, like, tag 3 friends” loops with no real connection
- No transparency on how winners are chosen
- No clear timeline or next steps after signing up
- Campaigns that feel like they’re just farming users, not inviting them in
So I’d love to hear from all of you:
What makes you want to join a whitelist campaign? Are there any recent campaigns that really impressed you?
If you’re a builder: what’s worked (or flopped) in your past campaigns?
How can we make whitelist campaigns more aligned with Web3 values?
Let’s crowdsource the playbook.