Solana’s ‘Chapter 2’ Phone: Memecoin Airdrops Could Offset Device Cost

• Pre-order holders of Solana’s Chapter 2 phone got surprise memecoin airdrops, covering the phone’s cost and even earning them profits.

• Saga’s struggles contrast Chapter 2’s success; its airdrop tokens, like MEW and MANEKI, surpassed the phone’s price.

Pre-order holders of Solana’s eagerly anticipated ‘Chapter 2’ mobile phone unexpectedly profited from memecoin airdrops before the device even hit the shelves. The airdropped tokens, including those from cat-themed projects like Cat in a Dog’s World (MEW) and Maneki (MANEKI), briefly exceeded the phone’s initial cost, offering holders a chance to not only cover the device’s price but also make a small profit.

In April, holders of the Chapter 2 pre-order were surprised to receive airdropped tokens from various memecoin projects, including MEW and MANEKI. At their peak prices, these tokens exceeded the $450 upfront cost of the phone, allowing holders to pay off the device and even pocket some profit.

Solana Mobile’s decision to unveil the budget-friendly Chapter 2 as the successor to its pioneering Saga phone garnered significant attention. With 60,000 pre-orders within a month of its January announcement, Chapter 2 promises to be a game-changer in the mobile crypto space. The seamless integration of Solana wallets and airdrop eligibility further sweetens the deal for prospective buyers.

Airdrop Bonanza Surpasses Phone Cost

Pre-orders for the Solana Chapter 2 phone, a mobile Web3 device, witnessed an unprecedented surge in demand, selling out within 24 hours of launch. Unlike its predecessor, Saga, which initially struggled with demand before gaining momentum, Chapter 2 met its seven-day sales goal within a single day. The Android-based device, slated for delivery in the first half of 2024, enticed buyers with the promise of potential airdrops akin to the Saga phone’s offering.

The much-anticipated airdrops finally materialized in April, courtesy of two Solana meme coin projects: Cats in a Dogs World (MEW) and Maneki (MANEKI). MEW distributed 37,600 tokens to all pre-ordered phone buyers, while MANEKI shared approximately 5,200 tokens. These tokens, reaching their peak values of $0.0089 and $0.269, respectively, on April 24 and 25, translated into substantial gains for recipients. MEW tokens alone were valued at $334, with MANEKI adding another $129 per buyer, surpassing the phone’s original cost.

Saga of Solana’s Previous Device

The story of Solana’s mobile devices doesn’t start with ‘Chapter 2.’ The Solana Saga’s predecessor initially struggled to gain traction upon its release in May 2023 due to technical issues and usability concerns. 

The Saga Chapter 2 phone was announced by Solana Labs in January as a follow-up to the original Solana Saga, which sold out due to the increasing value of included perks such as airdrops and free NFTs. Interestingly, a dog-themed token, BONK, fueled the original Saga sellout by offering 30 million tokens to each Saga buyer.

 By December, the value of BONK had surpassed the price of the phone itself, sparking a sales frenzy. Other Solana projects followed suit by offering free tokens and NFTs to Saga owners, further fueling demand for Solana Labs’ smartphone endeavors and paving the way for Chapter 2.

Despite the market fluctuations, MANEKI saw an impressive 10% surge over the past 24 hours, while MEW experienced a slight dip of 3%, as per CoinGecko data. As of this writing, Solana is trading at  $137 with a 4-hour decline of 4%.