iAero

iAero Protocol is a liquid staking layer built on top of Aerodrome Finance, the dominant DEX on Base. It solves a core problem with veAERO: traditionally, users must lock AERO tokens for up to 4 years to earn voting rewards. iAero removes this constraint by pooling deposits into a shared vault that maintains permanently locked veAERO positions at maximum voting power, while issuing liquid iAERO tokens back to depositors. The protocol distributes 80% of its revenue to iAERO stakers, and historical APR has exceeded 35% from real yield sources — Aerodrome voting bribes, trading fees, and protocol-owned liquidity — rather than inflationary emissions. iAero has confirmed a token called LIQ and is currently running a Season 1 airdrop campaign that allocates 5% of LIQ's fully diluted value to iAERO stakers over a 6-month period that began in early December 2025.

How to Participate in the iAero Airdrop

1. Get AERO tokens on Base. Purchase AERO through Aerodrome Finance or another DEX on the Base network. Make sure your wallet (MetaMask or any compatible Web3 wallet) is connected to Base.
2. Mint iAERO on iaero.finance. Connect your wallet and choose a minting path. You can deposit AERO directly at an approximate 0.95:1 ratio (a 5% deposit fee applies), deposit an existing veAERO NFT, or buy iAERO from Aerodrome's liquidity pool. Please verify the token approval amount; authorize only the specific amount required for the transaction.
3. Stake your iAERO. Navigate to the Stake tab, enter your desired amount, approve the staking contract, and confirm the transaction. Points start accumulating immediately at rate of 1 point per iAERO staked per day. Please verify the token approval amount; authorize only the specific amount required for the transaction.
4. Monitor your points. Use the Points Status section to check your total accumulated points, your leaderboard position, and the remaining days in Season 1.
5. Compound for higher daily acrual. Claim staking rewards periodically, convert them back intoAERO, and restake. This increases your daily point rate for the remainder of the season without any additional deposit fee beyond the standard minting cost.
6. Stay staked through Season 1. Unstaking halts point accumulation. Treat this as a sustained position: the longer and larger your stake, the greater your pro-rata share of the LIQ allocation at distribution.

Potential Reward

iAero is distributing 5% of LIQ token's fully diluted value pro-rata among all Season 1 participants based on total points earned. The point system is simple: 1 point per iAERO staked per day. For example, staking 10,000 iAERO for the full 180-day season generates 1.8 million points. Your final LIQ allocation depends on your share of the total point pool across all participants.

While the LIQ token's market value is not yet determined, the airdrop runs alongside existing staking rewards averaging over 35% APR. This means participants earn real yield throughout the season regardless of the eventual LIQ price.

Airdrop Requirements

• Wallet connected to the Base network.
• iAERO tokens staked in the protocol's staking contract.
• No minimum stake amount — any quantity of staked iAERO earns points.
• No complicated multipliers, referal tiers, or hidden eligibility criteria.
• Season 1 participation window: approximately 6 months starting early December 2025.

Latest iAero Airdrop Updates

Season 1 is currently ongoing, having launched in early December 2025, with LIQ token distribution expected around mid-2026 once the 6-month campaign concludes.

Risk

• Smart contract risk: iAero relies on permanently locked veAERO in a shared vault. A vulnerability in the vault or staking contract could result in loss of deposited assets, and the permanent lock means there is no withdrawal path from the underlying veAERO position.
• LIQ token uncertainty: The 5% allocation is denominated in fully diluted value of a token that does not yet trade. Its actual dollar value at distribution is unknown and could be minimal.
• Yield variability: The 35%+ APR is historical and depends on Aerodrome's weekly bribe volume and fee generation. A decline in Aerodrome activity would compress staking returns.
• Liquidity and peg risk: iAERO trades on a secondary market. If large holders exit, the iAERO/AERO price could deviate from the expected ratio, making exit more costly.
• Deposit fee as sunk cost: The 5% minting fee is non-refundable. Participants with short time horizons or small positions may not recoup this cost from staking yield alone.

FAQ

Can I unstake iAERO before Season 1 ends without losing earned points?

Yes. There is no lock-up period. Points you already earned remain intact, but your daily acrual stops the moment you unstake. You can re-stake at any time to resume earning.

How does iAero generate the 35%+ APR for stakers?

Yield comes from three real revenue streams: Aerodrome voting bribes, trading fees generated on Base's dominant DEX, and protocol-owned liquidity. These are not inflationary token emissions, but actual rates fluctuate week to week based on Aerodrome's activity.

Do I need to manually vote on gauges after staking?

No. iAero's automated voting system handles all gauge votes, reward claims, and position management. Your only required action is staking iAERO — the protocol takes care of the rest.

Data sources: official website (iaero.finance), source JSON, project Twitter (@iaeroProtocol).