Genius Airdrop White Paper Released, Dynamic Points Distribution Suspended Indicating Major Upgrade

On January 18, 2026, the on-chain trading terminal Genius announced that its dynamic points system would officially cease distribution starting at 8:30 Beijing time, marking a significant transition of its points system toward a retroactive points system.

On the same day, the highly anticipated airdrop white paper was officially released. This series of actions, combined with previous multi-million-dollar investments from YZi Labs and the addition of CZ as an advisor, quickly drew focus in the crypto market.

01 Points System Transformation

According to the official announcement from Genius, the original dynamic points distribution mechanism was officially halted at 8:30 (UTC+8) on January 18, 2026.

This change does not mean the termination of the points program but a transition to a new “retroactive points system.” The official statement indicates that all points earned through historical transactions will be fully retained in user accounts and will not disappear due to system upgrades.

The specific rules of the new retroactive points system have not yet been fully disclosed, but the first round of retroactive activity is scheduled to officially start at 4 PM Eastern Time on January 19. This suggests that Genius may calculate and reward points retroactively based on users’ on-chain behavior, transaction volume, or loyalty over a certain period.

02 Airdrop White Paper and Market Trends

Alongside the points system upgrade, the Genius project team released the white paper on January 18, which is seen as a key step in publicly sharing its tokenomics and distribution plan with the community.

The release of the white paper typically indicates that the project’s token issuance is entering a substantive phase, allowing the community to understand the total token supply, distribution ratios, unlocking rules, and airdrop details.

Previously, Genius received multi-million-dollar investments from well-known institution YZi Labs, and former Binance CEO CZ has confirmed joining the project as an advisor.

CZ publicly explained that Genius is positioned as a Perp DEX trading terminal, rather than a direct competitor to some similar products, clarifying its focus on enhancing derivatives trading experience.

03 Impact on Traders and the Community

The transformation of the points system directly affects all existing users and potential participants on the Genius platform. Shifting from “dynamic issuance” to “retroactive rewards” may change user interaction strategies.

Previously, users might have needed to continuously trade to earn more points. The new retroactive system may place more emphasis on rewarding early supporters, high-net-worth traders, or specific loyalty behaviors, encouraging users to focus on long-term participation and value contribution rather than short-term volume boosting.

For users hoping to receive airdrops, it is crucial to read and understand the white paper content promptly. It clarifies the eligibility, conditions, and timeline for earning token rewards. Trading platforms like Gate may also conduct related activities around such hot projects.

In fact, Gate Web3’s BountyDrop launched a Genius airdrop campaign on January 13, 2026, where users can participate in tasks to share a prize pool of 5,000 USDC.

05 How to Seize Opportunities on Gate

As a gateway connecting centralized and decentralized worlds, Gate provides users with convenient access to participate in emerging protocols. Recently, Gate TradFi officially launched contracts for traditional financial assets such as gold, silver, and forex, continuously expanding users’ asset allocation options.

For users interested in Genius and its token GENI:

• Follow official channels: Keep a close eye on Genius’s official Twitter and announcements to get the latest rules on the retroactive points system and airdrop details.
• Study the white paper: Carefully review the published white paper to understand its tokenomics and long-term development plans.
• Use platform tools: Leverage Gate’s information services and trading tools to track GENI’s price movements and market sentiment.
• Participate in ecosystem activities: Pay attention to related themed events launched by platforms like Gate Web3 BountyDrop to increase chances of rewards in a compliant manner.

Future Outlook

As of January 19, the market is digesting the mixed information from the Genius points system change and the white paper release.

The rules of the crypto market are always rewritten after trading volume accumulates, not at the moment of announcement. Whether the new retroactive points system can more fairly identify and reward valuable users will be a key factor in whether the Genius ecosystem can continue to expand.

With the first round of retroactive activity starting on January 19, all data from past transactions is being re-evaluated and transformed into new rights certificates.