Shardeum, an autoscaling EVM-based Layer 1 blockchain, has launched “Proof of Keys Airdrop Program” to reignite self-custody awareness among crypto users.
What is Proof of Keys and why it matters? The campaign resurrects a key principle from the 2019 movement initiated by Bitcoin advocate Trace Mayer: true ownership through control of private keys.
Proof of Keys encourage crypto holders to withdraw their assets from exchanges into self-custodial wallets. The goal is to promote financial sovereignty, test exchange solvency, and remind users of the principle: “Not your keys, not your coins.”
Starting August 6, users can register their self-custodial wallets on Shardeum’s mainnet, hold at least 100 SHM tokens, and participate in a 30-day challenge. The twist? The airdrop eligibility depends on the lowest balance users maintain during their holding period, incentivizing users not just to hold but to avoid dipping into their SHM stash.
For example, if a participant registers with 6,000 SHM but drops to 4,000 at any point, the latter becomes their base for airdrop calculation—even if they later replenish. This approach encourages long-term commitment and discourages speculative balance manipulation.
“This is more than just a community initiative,” said Shahzad Nathani, Head of Operations and Partnerships at Shardeum. “Proof of Keys is a reminder of the foundational principles of crypto: ownership, transparency, and decentralization.”
According to Nathani, the campaign is designed not only to promote responsible key management but also to boost network engagement among users who understand the value of financial sovereignty.
As users move away from custodial services, the blockchain ecosystem becomes more decentralized, reducing reliance on centralized exchanges and wallets.
KYC verification will be required for high-value reward recipients, aligning with broader compliance trends in token distribution while preserving user privacy for smaller participants. Registrations close on September 5, and the 30-day clock begins from the user’s time of registration.
This marks one of the first major Layer 1 initiatives directly tying airdrops to self-custody practices—a move that reflects the growing need to restore original Web3 values amid rising centralization risks.
Shardeum’s autoscaling architecture uses dynamic state sharding to scale throughput without increasing fees. Its consensus at the transaction level allows anyone to run a node, supporting broader decentralization efforts.
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