On January 18, 2026, Genius Perp DEX, backed by YZi Labs, released its official airdrop whitepaper, marking a shift to a retroactive reward system, per Odaily and Lookonchain. The first season runs until April 12, 2026, culminating in the GENIUS token launch. Key upgrades include a 50% increase in airdrop allocation and point value, with 10 million GP distributed weekly based on spot trading volume, per Coincu. This move, following a temporary suspension of dynamic points on January 17, aims to reward loyal traders at Phemex.
Genius rewards users with GP for trading activity: 1 GP per $100 spot volume or $1,000 perpetual futures volume, per TheBlockBeats. The retroactive system ensures past contributions count toward the GENIUS airdrop, with staking rewards up to 7,500% APY for early participants (decreasing over time), per. CZ, Binance co-founder and Genius advisor, clarified it’s a Perp DEX terminal, not a competitor to other platforms, per. Weekly distributions and gamified elements drive engagement, MEXC.
YZi Labs‘ tens of millions of investment and CZ‘s advisory role elevate Genius‘ credibility, per RootData. The platform unifies decentralized trading across chains, offering 0% commission promotions and daily competitions with 50M GP rewards, per MEXC. On-chain data from Nansen shows growing whale activity, positioning Genius as a leader in Perp DEX innovation, per. This backing could attract institutional flows, especially amid DeFi‘s $167B TVL, DefiLlama.
Genius‘ airdrop strategy could spark a trading boom, challenging platforms like GMX and dYdX, per. With Ethereum (ETH) at $3,207 and Bitcoin (BTC) stable, Perp DEX volume tripled to $12T in 2025, per TradingView News. Risks include regulatory scrutiny on airdrops, per Coinlaw.io. Investors should track GP earnings on the platform and follow @GeniusTerminal on X for updates. Genius‘ retroactive model and high rewards position it for explosive growth in 2026’s bull run.
