Akshita Jhalani
Crypto Analyst
I've been tracking DeFi airdrops closely this year, and Tangent is one that I think deserves more attention than it's currently getting. It's a confirmed airdrop, the campaign is already live, and there's a fixed token allocation reserved specifically for early depositors. That's not something you see every day.
Let me break down what Tangent is and exactly how to get eligible before the window closes.
What is Tangent?
Tangent is a DeFi protocol on Ethereum building $USG, an over‑collateralized stablecoin minted through a collateralized debt position model. If you're familiar with Curve's crvUSD, the mechanics will feel familiar. Instead of using idle assets as collateral, Tangent lets you mint $USG against productive positions like Curve LP tokens and Pendle PTs.
The idea is smart, your collateral keeps working for you while you borrow against it. Users can mint $USG at low or even interest‑free rates depending on market conditions, and earn yield through sUSG, the savings wrapper. Peg stability runs through Peg Keepers placed on top of main Curve pools. The protocol integrates with Curve, Frax, and Pendle, and it's currently in its late pre‑launch stage.
The Airdrop Is Confirmed
This isn't speculative. Tangent has confirmed that 12% of the total $TAN governance token supply goes to community rewards, 10% for liquidity engagement and 2% for vote engagement.
What makes the pre‑deposit campaign especially attractive is a separate fixed 2% of total supply reserved just for pre‑depositors, distributed proportionally based on how much you put in. On top of that, pre‑depositors get a 2x boost on the regular Points Program, plus trading fees and optional CRV rewards if they stake their LP tokens.
The campaign opened on May 18, 2026 and runs for 90 days, which puts the close around mid‑August 2026. The TGE date for $TAN hasn't been confirmed yet but will follow the $USG mainnet launch.
How to Participate
The first thing you need is USDC or frxUSD sitting in an Ethereum wallet. If you don't have either, pick up USDC on any major exchange and withdraw it to mainnet.
Once you're set up, head to the Tangent pre‑deposit page and connect your wallet. You'll see two pools to choose from, the USDC/USG pool or the frxUSD/USG pool. Pick based on what asset you hold, enter your deposit amount, and confirm the transaction. Your funds get routed into the corresponding Curve pool and you receive a Curve LP token representing your position.
To Stake or Not to Stake
After depositing, you have a choice. You can hold the LP token as is to maximize your points for the regular airdrop campaign. Or you can stake it on Curve, Convex Finance, or StakeDAO to earn CRV rewards alongside trading fees, but this does reduce your points multiplier.
Here's the thing though: staking doesn't affect your pre‑deposit campaign share at all. So if you're primarily after the fixed 2% allocation, staking is a reasonable move to stack additional yield on top.
The Retention Phase Matters
This is the part most people overlook. The campaign has three phases, a private phase for partners, a public phase open to everyone, and a retention phase at the end. During the retention phase, your position needs to stay active to keep your eligibility for the 2% pre‑deposit share.
A full withdrawal during this phase means you lose that allocation entirely, even if you redeposit afterward. Partial withdrawals reduce your eligible amount down to the minimum balance you held. So once you're in, the smart move is to stay in.
What I Think About This One
Tangent is a genuinely well‑structured campaign. The 2% fixed pre‑deposit allocation gives you a clear, proportional reward based on commitment rather than just clicking buttons. The integration with established protocols like Curve and Pendle adds credibility.
My advice is simple: deposit what you're comfortable leaving in for 90 days, hold the LP token for maximum points, and keep your position intact through the retention phase. The $TAN distribution will follow once $USG goes live on mainnet.
Don't sit on this one too long. The campaign window is running.