Cardano sidechain Midnight starts token distribution to ADA, XRP, BTC holders

Cardano privacy-focused sidechain Midnight Network has opened the Claim Phase of its NIGHT tokens.

Dubbed “Glacier Drop,” this phase will distribute NIGHT tokens to eligible wallets across eight blockchain ecosystems, according to an August 5 announcement. The launch follows publication of Midnight’s tokenomics paper earlier this summer, which set out the network’s distribution model and role for NIGHT. 

Midnight stated that Glacier Drop will be a multi-phase, community-focused distribution intended to broaden access while resisting manipulation. 

After the current Claim Phase, a 30-day “Scavenger Mine” will let newcomers perform on-chain work for unclaimed tokens, and a four-year “Lost-and-Found” will enable late claims from original eligible wallets following mainnet launch.

Eligibility was determined by a June 11 snapshot. Wallets holding at least $100 in native tokens on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, BNB Chain, Brave, Ripple (XRP Ledger), or Avalanche can connect to the official claim portal and redeem an allocation. 

The window to claim remains open for 60 days, according to the project’s announcement and portal guidance. 

Midnight Foundation president Fahmi Syed stated: 

“This airdrop is a rethink of how value and access can be distributed across chains, communities, and use cases and is designed to resist manipulation and encourage long-term engagement.”

Participants can access the claim process via Midnight’s official Glacier Drop portal by connecting a qualifying wallet and following the non-custodial flow.

Tokens remain locked

Claimed NIGHT does not unlock immediately. Once the mainnet is live, tokens will enter a Redemption Period that releases holdings in four random “thaw” events over 360 days, a structure designed to smooth supply and reward longer-term participation. 

Midnight TGE, the entity responsible for the initial NIGHT distribution in line with the network’s decentralization plan, will administer the rollout. The team reiterated that users should verify they are using the official URL before connecting a wallet. 

Midnight positions itself as a privacy-first network that uses zero-knowledge proofs and selective disclosure to let users share data when necessary while keeping sensitive information protected. 

The project is being developed as a sidechain within the Cardano ecosystem, providing interoperability while targeting data-protection use cases.

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