How to compare crypto points programs: a checklist you can reuse

If you’re comparing crypto points programs, you’re comparing two things at the same time: the upside is uncertain, but the risks and costs are real. This post gives you a reusable checklist so you can make calmer decisions and avoid the common traps that drain wallets or lock funds.

If you want to browse active campaigns with sourced links, start with the directory: points directory.

Quick take

• Start from official sources; don’t start from a viral post.
• Write down the scoring unit (time, volume, TVL, or quests); if you can’t find it, treat it as opaque.
• Map the exit; if you can’t explain how you unwind, stop there.
• Estimate costs (bridge fees, gas, spreads, and IL) before you touch size.
• Identify the biggest risk surface (bridge, admin keys, upgradeability, oracle, liquidation).
• Record what you did and what you approved so you can unwind fast.

Nothing here is financial advice. The goal is safer evaluation, not maximum points.

Start with sources, not vibes

Before you compare anything else, answer one question:

Can you verify the program from primary sources as of 2025-12-30?

Primary sources usually look like:

• Official docs (a docs site controlled by the project)
• Official app UI (the product itself)
• Official announcements (blog, Discord announcements channel, verified social accounts)

If you can’t find primary sources, label the program as unverified and move on. Your time is worth more than a rumor.

DeFi Farmer’s workflow is built around this. Open a protocol page, then follow the sources out from there:

• Protocols
• Networks
• Categories

The comparison checklist (copy this)

Use this rubric to compare programs quickly without turning your brain into mush.

If you only use one part of this post, use the “lockups and exits” row. Most bad outcomes come from “I can’t unwind” rather than “I chose the wrong points multiplier.”

Scoring: what usually matters (and what doesn’t)

Most programs converge on a few patterns because they’re easy to measure:

• Time-weighted balance: you earn points while you keep a position open.
• Volume-based: you earn points based on swaps/trades/borrows.
• Quest-based: you earn points for completing tracked actions.
• Referral-based: you earn points for bringing in other users.

Two important rules:

• If a program doesn’t publish scoring details, don’t invent them. Treat “multipliers” and “optimal routes” as unverified unless the project publishes them.
• Don’t confuse activity with eligibility. Many programs award points for actions but still apply filters later (region, sybil rules, excluded contracts, or minimum durations).

For a deeper breakdown of common scoring mechanics, read: points program scoring patterns.

Exits: model the unwind before you deposit

Points programs often push you into positions that are harder to exit than they look:

• Withdrawal delays (cooldowns, queued withdrawals, exit windows)
• Bridge delays (L2 exits, challenge periods, message passing)
• Liquidity risk (thin markets, bad slippage, unstable pegs)
• Liquidation risk (if you borrow or run leveraged positions)

Write an exit plan in one paragraph:

• What action exits the position?
• What is the expected time-to-exit?
• What are the failure modes (paused withdrawals, bridge downtime, market depeg)?

If you can’t answer those, you’re not “early”; you’re blind.

More on this: points farming exit plan.

Costs: do the math before you scale

Points are not a rebate. You pay up front.

Common costs that sneak up on people:

• Bridge fees and route costs
• Gas (especially across multiple chains)
• Borrow rates (variable rates can spike)
• Spread and slippage (thin liquidity makes you pay twice)
• Impermanent loss (if you provide liquidity)

Two tools that help you sanity-check:

• Compare bridge routes: bridge fee comparison
• Sanity-check LP downside: impermanent loss calculator

Use DeFi Farmer as your “comparison hub”

Avoid maintaining your own giant list in a spreadsheet. That’s what the directory is for.

A simple workflow:

1. Filter the points directory by chain/category you’re willing to touch.
2. Open 2–3 protocol pages and read the sources first.
3. Use the rubric table above; don’t negotiate with yourself.
4. If you proceed, record the position and approvals so you can unwind cleanly.

If you want the safety baseline before you start, read: airdrop farming checklist.

Example: comparing two hypothetical programs

This is intentionally generic so you can reuse it.

Program A: time-weighted deposits

• Points accrue while you keep a deposit open.
• Withdrawals have a 7-day cooldown.
• Scoring is published in docs.

Checklist outcome:

• Great if you can tolerate the cooldown and you have a clear exit date.
• Bad if you need liquidity on short notice.

Program B: volume-based swaps

• Points accrue based on trading volume.
• Scoring is not published.
• The UI pushes “boosts” from partners.

Checklist outcome:

• Treat “boosts” as marketing until proven otherwise.
• The risk is less “stuck funds” and more “death by fees” and overtrading.

The rubric isn’t picking for you; it’s preventing self-deception.

FAQ

Are points guaranteed to become an airdrop?

No. Points can convert into token rewards, fee discounts, perks, or nothing at all. Treat points as a tracking system, not a promise.

Is a points program “worth it” if scoring is opaque?

Opaque scoring isn’t automatically bad, but it raises your burden of proof. If you can’t explain what actions matter, don’t scale.

Should I farm across many chains to “diversify” points?

More chains usually means more approvals, more bridge risk, and more operational mistakes. Start with one chain and one workflow you can repeat safely.

What’s the fastest way to avoid scam links?

Start from a sourced hub page and use bookmarked links. Don’t search for random “airdrop pages” and don’t click ads.

Next step

• Browse sourced campaigns: points directory
• Compare route costs before bridging: bridge fee comparison
• Learn the safety baseline: crypto points farming guide

Sources and further reading

• ERC-20 token standard (allowances): https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-20
• Permit (ERC-2612): https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-2612
• Ethereum bridges overview: https://ethereum.org/en/bridges/