The highly anticipated native token of the Ethereum layer-2 network Blast (BLAST) has made a spectacular entry into the market. Following its launch, BLAST saw a remarkable 40% surge in its price. This surge contrasts sharply with other recent high-profile airdrops, like zkSync (ZK) and LayerZero (ZRO), which have seen significant declines since their debuts.

• The BLAST token's price rallied from its debut price of $0.02 to $0.0281, outperforming other recent token launches.

• BLAST's market cap exceeded $432 million, with a 24-hour trading volume surpassing $656 million, indicating strong market interest and activity.

• The airdrop distributed 17% of BLAST’s total supply to early users and contributors, fueling initial market excitement.

• The airdrop attracted scams, and the initial valuation faced criticism for falling short of expectations, highlighting the challenges ahead.

BLAST/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin 

BLAST debuted at $0.02 per token, giving it a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $2 billion. According to data from Ambient Finance and perps trading platform Aevo, the token's price quickly rallied over 40%, reaching $0.0281. This impressive start highlights the strong market interest in BLAST, setting it apart from other recent token launches.

Read more: Blast Airdrop Guide: How to Unlock Yield Potential

However, the launch was not without its controversies. Some crypto market commentators, including DeFiance Capital's co-founder Arthur Cheong, expected a higher initial valuation. Cheong was surprised by the $2 billion FDV, having anticipated a valuation closer to $5 billion.

Blast airdrop: Phase 1 Allocation | Source: Blast Docs 

According to Cointelegraph, the BLAST airdrop distributed 17% of the total token supply. Users who bridged Ether (ETH) or USD on Blast (USDB) to the network since late last year received 7% of the airdrop. Another 7% went to users who contributed to the success of decentralized applications (dApps) on the network. The remaining 3% was allocated to the Blur Foundation for future community airdrops.

Despite the successful airdrop, it drew criticism from some quarters. Critics argued that the initial valuation did not meet expectations, and the airdrop event attracted numerous scams. Crypto security service Scam Sniffer identified a victim who lost over $217,000 to a phishing scam during the BLAST airdrop event.

The Blast network, co-founded by Blur creator Tieshun Roquerre (known as PacMan), has faced scrutiny. Last November, seed investors criticized the network for lacking sufficient features to justify its one-way bridging mechanism. This mechanism required users to lock up their ETH for several months, which raised concerns among investors.

Read more: How to Bridge to Blast Mainnet

Blast L2 TVL | Source: L2Beat 

Despite these challenges, the Blast network has shown significant growth. It currently ranks as the fourth-largest layer-2 network by total value locked (TVL), boasting $2.87 billion, according to L2Beat. This places it just behind Arbitrum, Base, and OP Mainnet. Additionally, the network reported $2.3 billion in deposits between November and March, indicating strong user interest and engagement.

The long-term viability of Blast hinges on its ability to deliver on its promises. The network aims to provide a user-friendly experience that surpasses existing solutions like MetaMask. With over 1.5 million users and more than 200 live dApps, Blast has a solid foundation to build upon.

However, the network must address past criticisms and demonstrate its unique value proposition. While the initial airdrop buzz has been positive, Blast needs to prove its worth in the long run. Investors will be closely watching to see if Blast can develop a robust ecosystem of dApps and offer higher yield opportunities than its competitors.

Read more: Top Crypto Projects in the Blast Layer-2 Network

The launch of the BLAST token has been a significant event in the crypto world, marked by a 40% price surge and strong initial interest. However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Blast must overcome past criticisms, address security concerns, and fulfill its ambitious goals to maintain its momentum.

As the initial hype fades, the key question remains: Can Blast live up to its potential and establish itself as a leading layer-2 network? Only time will tell, but the current indicators suggest a promising start for this ambitious project.