Payy airdrop guide: how to earn zk-Points on this private stablecoin wallet and Visa card (2026)

What is Payy?

Payy is a mobile-only, self-custodial wallet and Visa card that lets you send, receive, and spend stablecoins privately using zero-knowledge proofs - meaning your transaction amounts, sending addresses, and receiving addresses are never publicly revealed on-chain, while the system remains compliant with regulatory requirements through cryptographic lineage tracing. Built by Polybase Labs (a team within Protocol Labs), Payy combines three interconnected products: the Payy Network (a Validium-style ZK rollup built on top of Ethereum and Polygon), the Payy Wallet (a mobile app for self-custodial private payments), and the Payy Card (a physical and virtual Visa card for spending stablecoins anywhere Visa is accepted).

Payments work through a UTXO model similar to Bitcoin and Zcash. When you send funds, your device generates a ZK proof locally - the app shows "Generating ZK Proof..." during this step - meaning even Payy itself cannot see your transaction details. Funds arrive at the recipient via a shareable payment link, no wallet address required. The network processes transactions with roughly one-second finality using its HotStuff consensus protocol. Payy is available on iOS and Android globally (except OFAC-sanctioned countries), is free to download, and charges no fees on transactions beyond a 1% foreign exchange fee for international purchases. The latest app version is 3.0.78, updated March 2026.

Payy has been backed by Robot Ventures, 6th Man Ventures, DBA Crypto, and Protocol Labs, and was selected as part of Circle's first USDC Grant Program cohort - a recognition by the issuer of USDC itself that Payy represents meaningful infrastructure for stablecoin adoption.

Is the Payy airdrop confirmed?

Payy has not confirmed a token or a formal airdrop, but it has been running a live zk-Points rewards programme since as early as March 2024, with points earned by holding a balance and by referring users who activate a Payy Card - and the programme is explicitly designed as a "Save-to-Earn" system that rewards early adopters ahead of a planned spend-to-earn expansion. The combination of a live points system, a confirmed "spend-to-earn" programme described as coming soon, Protocol Labs backing, and Circle grant recipient status gives Payy a credible pre-token profile. No token ticker, TGE date, or airdrop allocation has been officially announced. Points are described as enabling access to raffles, exclusive merchandise, event tickets, and the limited physical light-up card - but a future token distribution cannot be ruled out and is what most farmers are positioning for.

Payy's Season 1 (Balance Points) ran from March 2024 through August 2025, earning users 1 point per $1 held per day. The programme continues with the same structure. A spend-to-earn phase is confirmed as upcoming, which will earn points for card transactions as well as for holding.

Payy Airdrop Details

• Project: Payy (by Polybase Labs / Protocol Labs)

• Network: Payy Network (Validium ZK rollup on Ethereum / Polygon)

• Access: Mobile app only - iOS and Android

• Type: Private stablecoin wallet and Visa card

• Status: Ongoing - app live, zk-Points programme active

• Token: Not yet announced

• Points system: zk-Points - Save-to-Earn (1 point per $1 held per day)

• Referral bonus: 10,000 points when a referred friend activates a Payy Card

• Milestone reward: 100,000 points unlocks limited physical light-up Payy Card

• Coming soon: Spend-to-Earn (1 point per $1 spent on card)

• Deposit chains: USDC on Polygon, ETH/USDC on Ethereum, Base, Optimism, Arbitrum

• Privacy tech: ZK proofs (Halo2 circuits, HyperPlonk, KZG commitments)

• Backers: Robot Ventures, 6th Man Ventures, DBA Crypto, Protocol Labs

• Join: PAYY

How to Farm the Payy Airdrop

To earn Payy zk-Points, download the app, fund your wallet with USDC, hold a balance to accumulate 1 point per $1 per day, get your Payy Card activated to unlock the referral bonus, and refer others to earn 10,000 points per successful card activation.

1. Download the Payy app. Go to payy.link on your mobile device and download the iOS or Android app. The invite link ensures you are attributed to the referral chain from day one.

2. Back up your wallet immediately. Go to Menu, then More, then Wallet Backup. Save your recovery phrase offline or enable iCloud/Google Drive backup, and activate Face ID. Social recovery is coming but not yet live. This step protects your funds before you deposit anything.

3. Fund your wallet with USDC. The primary deposit method is USDC on Polygon (withdraw from an exchange to your Polygon wallet address in the app). You can also deposit from Ethereum, Base, Optimism, or Arbitrum wallets and the app bridges automatically. The minimum to start earning points meaningfully is any amount - 1 point per $1 per day means a $100 deposit earns 100 points daily, $1,000 earns 1,000 daily.

4. Keep your balance maintained. Points accrue based on your daily balance. The "Save-to-Earn" model specifically rewards users who hold rather than cycle funds. A consistent balance over time accumulates far more points than depositing and withdrawing repeatedly.

5. Get your Payy Card activated. Once funded, apply for the virtual Payy Card through the app. Virtual card issuance is instant. A physical card requires 100,000 accumulated points - the limited-edition version has a light-up logo. Having an active card is a prerequisite for earning the 10,000-point referral bonus when people you refer also activate their cards.

6. Refer others using your invite link. Share your personal referral link from the app. You earn 10,000 zk-Points for every friend who successfully applies for and activates their Payy Card. This is the highest single-event points source on the platform - one successful activation equals 100 days of holding $100.

7. Prepare for Spend-to-Earn. Payy has publicly described a spend-to-earn phase as coming soon, where card transactions earn 1 point per $1 spent. Position yourself with an active card and a funded balance so you can earn from both channels as soon as it launches.

8. Track your points. Go to the Rewards page in the app to see your accumulated zk-Points balance and available reward milestones.

How much does it cost to farm Payy?

Farming Payy requires no fees beyond the capital you choose to hold - there are no subscription costs, no transaction fees, and no gas fees on the Payy Network for most operations. The 1% foreign exchange fee only applies to international card purchases in non-USD currencies.

The main cost is opportunity cost - the USDC you hold in Payy is not earning yield elsewhere. That said, Payy's non-custodial model means your funds are genuinely under your control, and the speed of accessing them via card or payment link is a practical utility benefit independent of any airdrop consideration. The referral bonus (10,000 points per activation) is the most capital-efficient earning path: it costs nothing to share a link but rewards you with the equivalent of 100 days of holding $100.

Is Payy safe and legit?

Payy is a legitimate, Protocol Labs-backed project with open-source ZK circuits, a Circle USDC Grant, real working products on iOS and Android, and a privacy architecture that has been publicly documented and reviewed - it is not a scam and the self-custodial design means Payy itself cannot access or freeze your funds.

The key risk is that this is a relatively new ZK rollup and the underlying Payy Network is still evolving infrastructure. The app is updated regularly (version 3.0.78 in March 2026) which signals active development. Always use the official app from the Apple App Store or Google Play linked through payy.link, back up your wallet recovery phrase before depositing, and only hold capital you are comfortable committing to a non-custodial mobile wallet. No token has been confirmed - all points farming is speculative positioning.

Payy Airdrop FAQ

How do Payy zk-Points work?

Payy uses a Save-to-Earn model: you earn 1 zk-Point per $1 held in your Payy wallet per day. A $500 balance earns 500 points daily, or 15,000 per month. The referral bonus awards 10,000 points when a person you invite successfully activates their Payy Card. Points are viewable on the Rewards page in the app. Reaching 100,000 points unlocks the limited physical light-up Payy Card. A spend-to-earn phase is described as coming soon.

What is the Payy Network and why does privacy matter?

Payy Network is a Validium-style ZK rollup where transaction amounts, sender addresses, and receiver addresses are hidden using Halo2 zero-knowledge proofs generated locally on your device. Unlike normal blockchain transactions where every detail is public, Payy transactions record only cryptographic commitments on-chain. This is meaningful for anyone who does not want their financial activity visible to the public - which in practice is most people, not just those with something to hide. Payy also designed compliance into the privacy model through UTXO lineage tracing, meaning it can satisfy regulatory requirements without exposing individual transaction details.

Can I use the Payy Card globally?

Yes. The Payy Card works on the Visa network, which is accepted in 160 or more countries. The virtual card activates instantly and can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Pay. A physical card requires 100,000 accumulated points to request - it features a limited-edition light-up logo design. The only fee is 1% on international purchases in non-USD currencies. There are no monthly fees, no issuance fees, and no top-up fees.

Does Payy have a token?

No token has been launched or officially announced as of June 2026. Payy runs a live zk-Points programme but has not confirmed a TGE date, ticker, or allocation. The points system, Protocol Labs backing, and Circle USDC Grant recipient status all signal long-term ambition, but the team has made no public token commitment. Treat all farming as speculative positioning.

What chains can I deposit from to fund my Payy wallet?

You can fund your Payy wallet by withdrawing USDC on Polygon directly to your in-app wallet address. From self-custody wallets, you can send USDC or ETH from Ethereum mainnet, Base, Optimism, or Arbitrum. The app automatically bridges and converts deposits into the Payy Network's USDC balance. Robinhood Connect and Coinbase are also supported as direct fiat-to-Payy on-ramps.

See also: xPlace - another mobile-first crypto card with a confirmed Q4 2026 TGE. Full list: 200+ airdrops in 2026.