I heard it's because they can't do Initial Coin Offerings and just sell the coins to fund the project anymore, but they still need to distribute their coin to t

I heard it's because they can't do Initial Coin Offerings and just sell the coins to fund the project anymore, but they still need to distribute their coin to try to get usage going. So instead they "airdrop" it around in the hopes people will pick it up and use it. Maybe even if you sell it you're still helping someone else to buy the coin.