In the virtual currency and blockchain industry, “Candy” is a basic concept accessible to ordinary users, specifically referring to free small-value tokens proactively distributed by blockchain project parties. Unlike mainstream virtual currencies (such as Bitcoin and Ethereum) that require payment or significant investment to obtain, the core value of Candy lies in “zero-threshold experience.” It serves as a key tool for project parties to connect with potential users and promote their ecosystems, as well as an “entry key” for ordinary users to engage with the blockchain industry at low cost.

1. Three Core Characteristics of Candy Tokens

The reason why Candy has become a universal promotion method in the industry is closely related to its distinct characteristics, and almost all project Candies share the following common traits:

• Free Nature and Low Threshold: Users do not need to pay any funds. Usually, they only need to complete simple tasks (such as registering a project account, following the official community, or filling in basic information) to obtain Candy, with almost no entry barrier.
• Small-Value Attribute: The amount of Candy that a single user can receive is generally small. Project parties adopt a “wide-net” approach to cover a large number of users rather than distributing it to a few people. For example, a certain DApp (Decentralized Application) may distribute 10-50 exclusive Candies to each new user.
• Project Relevance: Candy is not a universal token but is bound to the ecosystem of a specific blockchain project. For instance, Candy from a decentralized exchange (DEX) can only be used on that platform to offset transaction fees or participate in voting; Candy from an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) project can be exchanged for basic digital collectibles within the platform. Without the corresponding project, Candy often has no practical value.

2. Four Main Purposes of Blockchain Projects Issuing Candy

The fact that project parties are willing to distribute tokens for free essentially stems from long-term operation and promotion needs, with core purposes including:

• Cold Start User Acquisition: Newly launched blockchain projects (such as DApps and public chain ecological tools) lack a user base. By using Candy, they can quickly attract the first batch of users to register and experience, solving the traffic problem of “starting from scratch.”
• Ecosystem Awareness Popularization: Some blockchain applications (such as decentralized finance/DeFi and Web3 social networking) have complex operational logic. Candy can serve as an “experience coupon” to guide users to perform actual operations (such as completing a small-value transfer or posting a community update), helping users understand the project’s functions.
• Enhancing Community Activity: For mature projects, regularly distributing Candy to community members (such as active posters or content sharers) can motivate users to continuously participate in community interactions and enhance user stickiness.
• Accumulating User Data: When users obtain Candy, they need to complete basic verification (such as mobile phone number or email verification). Through this method, project parties can accumulate real user data, providing support for subsequent product iterations and targeted operations.

3. Five Common Ways for Ordinary Users to Obtain Candy

There are various ways to obtain Candy, with low operational difficulty, making them suitable for different types of users:

• Official Platform Registration and Verification: Visit the project’s official website or compliant platforms cooperating with the official side, complete account registration + mobile phone number/email verification, and the system will automatically distribute Candy to the user’s account.
• Community Interaction Tasks: Participate in designated topic discussions (such as “Sharing your suggestions for the project”), repost project news, or like and comment on official content in the project’s official communities (such as Discord, Telegram, or Weibo Super Topic). After meeting the requirements, administrators will manually distribute Candy or the system will credit it automatically.
• Referral Rewards: Invite friends and family to register and complete the Candy collection task through a personal exclusive referral link. The inviter can receive additional rewards (such as 20 Candies per successful invitation).
• Testing Feedback Activities: Before a project is launched, it will conduct “beta testing activities.” Users can sign up to participate in DApp function testing, submit bug feedback, or provide usage suggestions to receive Candy as a reward.
• Cooperative Platform Linkages: Some projects cooperate with blockchain information platforms or wallet tools. Users can also receive Candy by completing designated operations on cooperative platforms (such as reading project articles on an information App or adding project assets to a specific wallet).

4. Four Key Risks to Note When Obtaining Candy

Although Candy is free, the virtual currency field inherently carries risks, and users need to be alert to the following issues:

• Uncertain Value: More than 90% of Candies are only promotion tools, with no actual application scenarios or market liquidity. They may never be cashed out or generate “appreciation.” Do not hold the expectation of “making money from free Candy.”
• Fraud Traps: Unscrupulous individuals may pose as “legitimate projects” and use “high-value Candy” as bait to trick users into providing account passwords, transferring small-value tokens to “activate accounts,” or clicking phishing links. All such cases are fraud. Be sure to obtain Candy through official project channels (official websites, official communities).
• Compliance Risks: Some regions have strict supervision over virtual currency-related activities. If the project or platform distributing Candy does not operate in compliance, users may be unable to withdraw Candy, or even face legal risks for participating in non-compliant activities.
• Investment Misleading Risks: Some projects may use “Candy collection” as a starting point to induce users to further purchase the project’s mainstream tokens, claiming that “Candy will be upgraded to high-value tokens in the future.” Such promotions are mostly gimmicks. Users need to independently judge the rationality of the project and avoid blind investment.

5. Conclusion: Viewing the Value of Candy Rationally

For ordinary users, Candy is an opportunity to “experience the blockchain ecosystem at zero cost.” By collecting Candy, you can initially understand the functions and operational logic of different projects and accumulate basic industry knowledge. However, it is important to always remember that the core attribute of Candy is a “promotion tool,” not an “investment target.” When obtaining Candy, prioritize compliant projects and participate through official channels. At the same time, be alert to any high-yield promises in the name of “Candy” to protect your rights while experiencing the industry.