Helius AirShip Guide: Get Started with ZK Compressed Airdrops

Complete guide to using Helius AirShip for Solana token airdrops. Learn ZK compression, cost savings, and distribution to NFT holders and token holders.

Helius AirShip is an open-source tool that makes token airdrops simple, affordable, and accessible. Whether you’re distributing to Saga Chapter 2 holders, NFT/cNFT holders, SPL token holders, or using a CSV file, AirShip streamlines the process and dramatically reduces costs through ZK compression.

What is AirShip?

AirShip is a comprehensive airdrop solution that leverages ZK compression to make large-scale token distribution affordable on Solana. Instead of creating individual token accounts for each recipient (which costs ~0.002 SOL each), AirShip uses ZK compression to bundle recipient data into a single Merkle root, reducing costs by over 95%.

For a detailed explanation of airdrop costs and how ZK compression works, read our comprehensive guide: The Cheapest Way to Airdrop Solana Tokens

Web Version

Perfect for small airdrops, up to 200,000 recipients

CLI Version

For advanced users needing larger-scale distribution

Key Features

Simplified Airdrops

Easy token airdrops for all, no technical skills needed

ZK Compression

Cut costs on large airdrops by reducing account usage

Multiple Recipients

Support for NFT holders, token holders, CSV files, and more

Cost Effective

Reduce airdrop costs by over 95% compared to traditional methods

Cost Comparison

The savings from ZK compression become even more significant as you scale to larger recipient lists.

Traditional Airdrop

10,000 recipients: 20 SOL ($4,800)

ZK Compressed Airdrop

10,000 recipients: 0.01 SOL ($2.40)

Prerequisites

Solana Wallet

A wallet that holds the tokens you want to distribute

SOL for Fees

Enough SOL to cover minimal transaction fees

Recipient List

CSV file, NFT holders, or token holders

RPC Endpoint

Supports ZK compression and DAS API (get one free)

Using the Web Version

The web version is perfect for smaller airdrops and users who prefer a graphical interface.

1. Access AirShip

   Visit the AirShip website and click “Create New Airdrop.”

2. Configure Your Wallet

   1. Enter your private key and RPC URL
   2. Use an RPC like https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY

   Use a temporary wallet created specifically for this airdrop task. The private key is only used for signing transactions and isn’t stored or shared anywhere.

3. Select Recipients

   Choose from several options:

   NFT Holders

   Select specific NFT collections

   Token Holders

   Target holders of specific SPL tokens

   Saga Holders

   Distribute to Saga Chapter 2 holders

   CSV Upload

   Upload your own list of recipients

4. Set Token Amount

   Specify either:

   • A fixed number of tokens per recipient
   • A percentage of your total token supply to distribute
5. Review and Confirm

   Carefully review the airdrop summary:

   • Total recipients
   • Token amount per recipient
   • Estimated transaction fees
   • Total cost

   Once confirmed, AirShip will handle the batch sending and ZK proofs automatically.

Using the CLI Version

The CLI version is better for larger airdrops and users who prefer command-line tools.

Installation

npm

npm install -g helius-airship

Usage

Basic Command

helius-airship \
  --keypair /path/to/your/airdrop_wallet.json \
  --url "https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace /path/to/your/airdrop_wallet.json with the path to your Solana filesystem wallet and YOUR_API_KEY with your Helius API key.

Interactive Setup

1. Select Recipient Type

   Choose from NFT holders, token holders, CSV, etc.

2. Specify Token Amounts

   Set the amount to distribute per recipient

3. Confirm Details

   Review the airdrop configuration

4. Execute Transactions

   AirShip will handle the batch processing

Requirements

Node.js

Node.js >= v20.9.0

pnpm >= v9.13.2 (for building from source)

Solana Wallet

A valid filesystem wallet that:

• Holds the tokens to distribute
• Has SOL for transaction fees
• Owns the token being distributed

RPC Endpoint

Must support:

• ZK Compression
• Digital Asset Standard (DAS) API

Get one free at Helius Dashboard

If you don’t have a filesystem wallet, visit the Solana documentation for details on creating one.

Best Practices

Test First

Always test with a small batch before running large airdrops

Use Dedicated Wallets

Create a separate wallet specifically for airdrops

Backup Data

Save your recipient lists and transaction signatures

Verify Recipients

Double-check your recipient addresses before executing

Getting Help

GitHub Issues

Check for issues and updates

Discord Support

Join the community

Documentation

Review ZK compression docs

Next Steps

1. Verify Distribution

   Check successful distribution using block explorers

2. Monitor Balances

   Keep track of recipient token balances

3. Explore More Features

   Check out other compression features

AirShip makes token distribution accessible and affordable, enabling you to reward your community without breaking the bank. The combination of ZK compression and an intuitive interface removes the technical barriers that previously made large-scale airdrops costly and complex.

Additional Resources

Blog: Cheapest Way to Airdrop

Comprehensive guide to airdrop costs and ZK compression

AirShip Calculator

Calculate your airdrop costs before you start