Cardano Midnight Airdrop: How to Claim Glacier Drop (Step-by-Step Instructions)

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, youll learn:

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

Lets get started!

Key highlights:

• The Cardano Midnight Airdrop(Glacier Drop) distributes 24B NIGHT tokens across 8 major blockchains.
• To qualify, users must have held at least $100 of ADA, BTC, ETH, or other eligible tokenson June 11, 2025.
• NIGHT tokens 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.
• NIGHT enables 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. Its 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 its a separate chain, it benefits from the same Proof-of-Stake backbonethat powers Cardano.

Midnight tokenomics: NIGHT and 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:

• Governance: Holders can vote on proposals that shape the future of the network.
• Staking: NIGHT will be used to secure the Midnight chain, likely through a mechanism that integrates with Cardanos existing stake pool system.
• DUST generation: Just by holding NIGHT in your wallet, you passively generate DUST over time.

Think of NIGHT as your stake in the system. The more you hold, the more influence and utility you unlock.

What is DUST？

DUSTis how you pay for transactions on the Midnight network. It works behind the scenes as a privacy-preserving fee token.

But here‘s the twist: you can’t buy, sell, or transfer DUST. It isn‘t a token you trade. Instead, it’s a non-transferable creditthat your NIGHT holdings generate automatically.

This solves two big problems at once:

• It removes volatility from crypto fees, since DUST isnt traded on exchanges.
• It protects your privacy, because DUST transactions dont leave visible patterns or token trails like typical gas tokens do.

If you move your NIGHT to another wallet, DUST generation resets in the new address. That makes it hard to link activity between wallets, and helps preserve anonymity.

What is the Glacier Drop？

The Glacier Dropis Midnights way of distributing its NIGHT token to the public.

But this airdrop is absolutely huge, definitely one of the best crypto airdrops this summer. Its aimed at over 37 million walletsacross 8 different blockchains.

The idea is pretty simple: instead of rewarding insiders or private investors, Midnight is giving NIGHT directly to the people who already believe in crypto.

Heres how it works.

Whos eligible？

If you held at least $100 worthof one of the following tokens in a self-custody wallet on June 11, 2025, your wallet likely qualifies:

• Cardano (ADA)
• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Solana (SOL)
• Binance Coin (BNB)
• Avalanche (AVAX)
• XRP (XRP)
• Basic Attention Token (BAT)

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？

Theres a fixed supply of 24 billion NIGHT tokens, and all of them will eventually be distributed to the community.

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

• 50% to ADA holders
• 20% to BTC holders
• 30% divided equally across the six other chains(ETH, SOL, BNB, AVAX, XRP, BAT)

So if you were holding ADA in a personal wallet on June 11, you're part of the largest slice of this drop. Bitcoin users come next, followed by the rest.

The more of a token you held (relative to other wallets on that chain), the more NIGHT you'll be able to claim. It's a proportional allocationbased on your balance during the snapshot.

Midnight designed this distribution to be broad, fair, and chain-neutral. The goal is onboarding users from across the crypto space, not just from within Cardano.

How to claim the Glacier airdrop

Claiming your NIGHT tokens is simple, free, and doesn‘t require KYC. As long as you held a qualifying asset in a personal wallet on June 11, 2025, you’re eligible to claim.

Heres how to do it, step by step.

Step 1: Use the right wallet

Youll need access to the same walletthat held your eligible crypto (ADA, BTC, ETH, etc.) at the time of the snapshot. This must be a self-custody wallet, meaning one where you control the private keys.

Here are a few examples:

• ADA holders: Use a Cardano wallet like Eternal, Yoroi, or Typhon. Make sure it supports CIP-30 dApp connectors, since youll need to sign a message in the claim process.
• BTC holders: Use a Bitcoin wallet that allows message signing (e.g., Electrum).
• ETH, SOL, and others: MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet, and similar wallets that support signing are typically fine.

Important:If your tokens were on centralized exchanges (like Binance or Coinbase), youre not eligible. Midnight cant 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 youre 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 NIGHT tokens 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 isnt 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 NIGHT tokens 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 NIGHT tokens to the same Cardano address, or split them if you prefer.

Glacier airdrop phases and vesting

The Glacier Drop isnt 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.

Heres 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 NIGHT tokens. If you qualify, this is your best chance to get the full amount you're entitled to.

After the 60-day window ends, any NIGHT tokens that werent 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 whats 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 NIGHT if 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 NIGHT tokens in Phase 1, you wont 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. Its 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 NIGHT tokens during the 60-day window and start unlocking their potential.

Midnight is launching a privacy-first network that ties into Cardanos 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 wallets ready, your Cardano address is set, and your eligibility is secured.