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If you held $ADA, $BTC, $ETH, or a handful of other major coins on June 11, you might already qualify for one of the largest airdrops in crypto history.

It’s called the Glacier Drop, and it’s the launch event for Midnight, a new privacy-focused sidechain being built by the same team behind Cardano. Instead of giving early access to VCs or insiders, Midnight is distributing its native token, $NIGHT, directly to everyday users across eight different blockchains.

The goal is to put tokens into the hands of over 37 million wallets, and kickstart adoption of a new blockchain that combines privacy, smart contracts, and real-world utility.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What Midnight is
• How the airdrop works
• Exactly what steps to follow to claim your share of $NIGHTtokens, without paying a cent

Let’s get started!

Key highlights:

• The Cardano Midnight Airdrop(Glacier Drop) distributes 24B $NIGHTtokens across 8 major blockchains.
• To qualify, users must have held at least $100 of $ADA, $BTC, $ETH, or other eligible tokenson June 11, 2025.
• $NIGHTtokens are claimed for freeusing a self-custody wallet and a Cardano address. No fees or KYC required.
• Claimed tokens vest graduallyover 12 months, with 25% unlocking every 90 days.
• $NIGHTenables governance, staking, and passive generation of DUST, a private, non-tradable fee token.
• Midnight is a privacy-focused Cardano sidechainbuilt for cross-chain smart contracts and secure transactions.

What is Midnight?

Midnight is a new blockchain being built as a sidechain of Cardano (think of it like Cardano’s Polygon). It’s designed to handle one thing that most blockchains struggle with: privacy.

While public blockchains like Ethereum or Cardano make every transaction visible, Midnight has a different approach. It’s built for private smart contracts. It means people can interact with apps, transfer assets, and run decentralized services without exposing their datato the entire world.

This makes it great for use cases where privacy actually matters, like:

• Business transactions
• Personal data
• Regulated industries

Midnight is developed by Input Output Global (IOG), the same team behind Cardano. It runs alongside the Cardano main chain and uses the same underlying security model.

So even though it’s a separate chain, it benefits from the same Proof-of-Stake backbonethat powers Cardano.

Midnight tokenomics: $NIGHTand DUST Explained

Midnight uses a dual-token systembuilt for privacy and long-term utility. Each token plays a distinct role in the network.

What is $NIGHT?

$NIGHTis the main token of the Midnight network. It has three key functions:

You only needed to meet the threshold on one chain to qualify. If you held tokens on more than one chain, you may be eligible for multiple claims.

How are the tokens divided?

There’s a fixed supply of 24 billion $NIGHTtokens, and all of them will eventually be distributed to the community.

Here’s how they’re being split during the Glacier Drop:

Important:If your tokens were on centralized exchanges (like Binance or Coinbase), you’re not eligible. Midnight can’t verify ownership unless you controlled the private keys.

Step 2: Visit the official claim site

Once the claim window opens in July 2025, go to the official Midnight website at midnight.gd. There will be a dedicated claim portal for the Glacier Drop.

Make sure you’re using the real site and avoid any links sent through random DMs or unofficial Telegram groups.

Step 3: Verify ownership

When you select your eligible chain (e.g. Cardano or Bitcoin), the site will ask you to connect your walletor sign a messageto prove you control that address.

No transaction will be sent, and you won’t pay any gas fees during this step. You’re just proving you owned the crypto at the time of the snapshot.

Step 4: Enter a Cardano wallet address

Even if you qualified through Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another chain, your $NIGHTtokens will be sent to a Cardano address.

So if you don’t already have a Cardano wallet, now’s the time to set one up. Eternal and Yoroi are beginner-friendly options.

Use a clean Cardano receiving address, one that you control and that isn’t tied up in staking or complex smart contracts. Just paste it into the claim form when prompted.

Step 5: Submit and confirm

After you verify your wallet and enter a Cardano address, submit your claim. The system will calculate your share based on your snapshot balance and confirm that your address is eligible.

If everything checks out, your $NIGHTtokens will be scheduled for delivery to your Cardano wallet.

Step 6 (optional): Repeat for other assets

If you qualify on more than one blockchain, you can repeat the process for each one. Just use the appropriate wallet for each network and direct all your $NIGHTtokens to the same Cardano address, or split them if you prefer.

Glacier airdrop phases and vesting

The Glacier Drop isn’t a one-and-done airdrop. Midnight has built a full distribution plan that rolls out in three phases. So, users have multiple chances to claim their tokens.

Here’s how it breaks down.

Phase 1: Glacier Drop (60-day claim window)

This is the main airdrop phase. Starting in July 2025, eligible users will have 60 daysto claim their $NIGHTtokens. If you qualify, this is your best chance to get the full amount you're entitled to.

After the 60-day window ends, any $NIGHTtokens that weren’t claimed will move into the next phase.

Phase 2: Scavenger Mine

The Scavenger Mine is a 30-day opportunityto collect leftover tokens from the initial drop. But instead of simply claiming them, users will need to complete small on-chain tasks or challengesto earn a portion of what’s left.

This could include things like verifying activity, helping test the network, or contributing in other simple ways. Think of it as a gamified second chance to earn $NIGHTif you missed the first window.

Phase 3: Lost & found

This phase is designed for latecomers. If you were eligible in Phase 1 but forgot to claim, the Lost & Found gives you a way to still recover some of your tokens (even months or years later).

This window stays open for up to 4 years, though the amount you can claim will decrease over time. Eventually, any tokens still unclaimed will be moved to the Midnight treasury and used for ecosystem growth.

What happens after you claim?

Even if you successfully claim your $NIGHTtokens in Phase 1, you won’t be able to use them right away.

All claimed tokens are lockedin a smart contract and released over time on a set schedule:

• 25% unlocks every 90 days
• Full unlockhappens over the course of one year

So if you claim in July, your first batch becomes accessible in the fall. This vesting period is built in to prevent dumping and give the network time to grow before tokens hit the open market.

You can choose to unlock tokens gradually, or wait until the full vesting period ends and claim everything at once.

The bottom line

The Midnight Glacier Drop is one of the most inclusive airdrops the crypto world has seen. It’s giving everyday users acrosseight major blockchainsa chance to join something new, without paying or applying for anything.

If you held at least $100 worth of $ADA, $BTC, $ETH, or any other supported token in a self-custody wallet on June 11, you’re likely already eligible. All that’s left is to claim your $NIGHTtokens during the 60-day window and start unlocking their potential.

Midnight is launching a privacy-first network that ties into Cardano’s strengths while opening doors to users from every corner of the crypto space. With private smart contracts, a dual-token system, and a fair launch model, this might just be the next big thing.

The claim portal goes live soon. Make sure your wallet’s ready, your Cardano address is set, and your eligibility is secured.

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