1. Airdrop Recipients Among Eigen Labs Employees
2. EIGEN Tokens and Jurisdictional Issues
3. Legal and Ethical Issues in the Industry

US-based employees of Eigen Labs received substantial airdrops from crypto projects Renzo and Ether.Fi, despite these projects' stated efforts to exclude U.S. residents due to legal concerns.

Airdrop Recipients Among Eigen Labs Employees

Eigen Labs employees residing in major US cities such as Austin, San Francisco, and Seattle openly claimed these tokens. CoinDesk found that at least 10 US-based Eigen Labs employees received large airdrops.

EIGEN Tokens and Jurisdictional Issues

While Renzo and Ether.Fi announced that their airdrops would not be available to US residents, Eigen Labs employees—including engineers, directors, and chief lawyers—received hundreds of thousands of dollars in tokens. Another crucial aspect is that Eigen Foundation, overseeing the token issuance, plans to operate in the Cayman Islands, allowing it to bypass strict US laws.

Legal and Ethical Issues in the Industry

This case raises questions about compliance with legal and ethical standards in the industry, especially as US regulators increase pressure on the crypto sector. While Eigen Labs admits to such token allocations, the company clarifies that no special treatment was given to its employees.

This case highlights the need for stricter oversight and transparency in the cryptocurrency industry, particularly in terms of compliance with legal norms and ethical standards.