How to create a multi-send or airdrop smart contract?

A multi-send smart contract enables efficient token distribution to multiple addresses in one transaction, reducing gas costs and streamlining airdrops or reward campaigns on Ethereum and EVM-compatible blockchains.

Jul 13, 2025 at 11:08 am

Understanding Multi-Send and Airdrop Smart Contracts

A multi-send or airdrop smart contract is a type of Ethereum-based contract that allows for the efficient transfer of tokens to multiple recipients in one transaction. This method significantly reduces gas costs compared to sending individual transactions. Developers often use this approach when launching token distributions, marketing campaigns, or reward systems.

In the context of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible blockchains, such as Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, or Avalanche, deploying such contracts follows similar principles. The core idea involves creating a function that iterates through an array of addresses and sends a specified amount of tokens to each.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before writing your contract, ensure you have the necessary tools installed:

• Remix IDE: A browser-based Solidity compiler and development environment.
• MetaMask: For interacting with blockchain networks and signing transactions.
• Node.js & Hardhat/Truffle: Optional for advanced local testing and deployment.
• ERC-20 Token: Ensure you have a deployed ERC-20 token or use a testnet version.

Once everything is set up, connect MetaMask to a test network like Ropsten, Goerli, or Sepolia to avoid spending real ETH during testing.

Writing the Smart Contract in Solidity

Below is a basic example of a multi-send smart contract written in Solidity:

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;
interface IERC20 {
function transferFrom(address sender, address recipient, uint256 amount) external returns (bool);
}
contract MultiSender {
address public owner;

constructor() {
    owner = msg.sender;
}

function multiSendTokens(address _tokenAddress, address[] memory _recipients, uint256[] memory _amounts) public {
    require(_recipients.length == _amounts.length, "Recipient and amount arrays must match");
    IERC20 token = IERC20(_tokenAddress);

    for (uint256 i = 0; i < _recipients.length; i++) {
        require(token.transferFrom(msg.sender, _recipients[i], _amounts[i]), "Token transfer failed");
    }
}
}

This contract defines a multiSendTokens function that accepts an ERC-20 token address, an array of recipient addresses, and an array of corresponding token amounts. It uses transferFrom, which requires users to first approve the contract to spend their tokens via the approve() function on the token contract.

Deploying the Smart Contract

To deploy the contract:

• Open Remix IDE and create a new file named MultiSender.sol.
• Paste the code above into the editor.
• Switch to the "Solidity Compiler" tab and compile the contract.
• Go to the "Deploy & Run Transactions" tab.
• Select the appropriate environment — choose Injected Provider - MetaMask.
• Click Deploy and confirm the transaction in MetaMask.

After deployment, copy the contract address for future reference.

Approving Tokens and Executing the Airdrop

Before calling multiSendTokens, the user must approve the contract to spend their tokens:

• Interact with the ERC-20 token contract using MetaMask or Remix.
• Call the approve() function with the contract address and a sufficient token amount.
• Confirm the approval transaction.

Once approved, call the multiSendTokens() function from the MultiSender contract with the following parameters:

• _tokenAddress: Address of the ERC-20 token.
• _recipients: Array of wallet addresses.
• _amounts: Array of token amounts to send to each recipient.

Ensure both arrays are of equal length and correspond correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Revert Errors: Often occur due to mismatched array lengths or insufficient approvals.
• Out of Gas: Sending to too many addresses at once can exceed block gas limits. Consider batching in smaller groups.
• Incorrect Token Address: Double-check the token address used in the contract.
• TransferFrom Failed: Indicates either no approval or insufficient token balance.

If the transaction reverts, analyze the transaction trace in Etherscan to pinpoint where execution failed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I reuse the same contract for multiple airdrops?

Yes. As long as the contract remains funded and the token approvals are valid, it can be reused for subsequent airdrops by calling the multiSendTokens() function again.

Q2: What if I want to send native ETH instead of tokens?

You would need to modify the contract to accept and distribute ETH using msg.value and payable(recipient).transfer(amount) inside a loop. However, looping over transfers of native currency increases gas consumption and risk of failure.

Q3: How do I batch process thousands of airdrops efficiently?

Break the list into smaller chunks (e.g., 100–200 per batch) to stay within gas limits. Alternatively, consider off-chain solutions like Merkle drop contracts, which allow users to claim tokens individually.

Q4: Is it safe to approve unlimited tokens to the contract?

Approving unlimited tokens poses a potential risk if the contract has vulnerabilities or malicious intent. Always review the contract source code and consider approving only the exact amount needed for the airdrop.