Midnight (NIGHT) Airdrop by Cardano: Details, Eligibility, and What Happened After the Deadline

Midnight (NIGHT) Airdrop by Cardano: Details, Eligibility, and What Happened After the Deadline

Midnight Airdrop Eligibility Calculator

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Token Vesting: If eligible, NIGHT tokens were locked in a smart contract with quarterly unlocks over 360 days (25% every 90 days), but unlock timing was randomized and dependent on mainnet launch. As of November 2025, mainnet has not launched.

On August 6, 2025, one of the biggest cryptocurrency airdrops in history went live - the Midnight (NIGHT) token Glacier Drop. Backed by the Cardano ecosystem and designed to bring real privacy to blockchain, it wasn’t just another token giveaway. It was a carefully engineered network launch, targeting 34 million wallet addresses across eight blockchains. But here’s the thing: the claiming window closed on October 4, 2025. If you didn’t claim your NIGHT tokens by then, you missed the first big chance - and now the rules have changed.

Who Was Eligible for the Midnight Airdrop?

You didn’t need to be a Cardano expert to qualify. The Glacier Drop looked at wallet balances across eight major blockchains on June 11, 2025. If your wallet held at least $100 worth of any of these assets at that exact snapshot - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Ripple, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Brave BAT, or Cardano ADA - you were eligible.

The catch? You had to control your own private keys. If your crypto was sitting on Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken, you were out of luck - unless your exchange decided to claim on your behalf. Almost none did. That’s why, even though 34 million addresses were flagged as eligible, the actual number of people who claimed was far lower.

Cardano holders got the biggest slice: 50% of all 24 billion NIGHT tokens - that’s 12 billion tokens - were reserved just for ADA wallets. Bitcoin holders got 20%, and the rest was split among the other six chains based on how much value they held at snapshot time. So if you had $500 in BTC and $300 in ADA, you qualified for both allocations. That meant some people walked away with over 100 million NIGHT tokens.

The Claiming Process Wasn’t Simple - But It Was Secure

Claiming wasn’t just clicking a button. You had to pass two cryptographic proofs:

  1. Sign a message proving you owned the wallet from the snapshot - without moving any funds.
  2. Provide a brand-new, unused Cardano wallet address to receive the NIGHT tokens.

This wasn’t optional. You couldn’t use an existing Cardano wallet that had ever sent or received ADA. You had to create a fresh one. That confused a lot of people. Some thought their Yoroi or Lace wallet would work - it didn’t. You needed a clean slate.

The portal accepted connections from Eternl, Lace, Yoroi, and MetaMask. But no matter which chain you held assets on, you had to end up with a Cardano wallet. That’s because Midnight is a Cardano sidechain. The tokens live on Cardano’s network, even if you earned them from Bitcoin or Solana.

The entire process took 10-20 minutes if you knew what you were doing. For newcomers, it was a wall of technical terms. Many missed out because they didn’t understand what “signing a message” meant. Community guides on YouTube and Reddit became essential. One video, posted on August 5, 2025, showed exactly how to connect wallets, sign the proof, and enter the new Cardano address - and it got over 2 million views.

What Happened to the Tokens After Claiming?

Here’s where Midnight broke the mold. Most airdrops give you the full amount right away. You sell half, forget about it, and move on. Midnight didn’t want that.

Claimed NIGHT tokens were locked in a Cardano smart contract. They didn’t unlock all at once. Instead, they thawed in four equal parts - 25% every 90 days - over a 360-day window. But here’s the twist: the unlock times were randomized. No one knew exactly when each quarter would release. That was intentional.

Why? To stop big sellers from coordinating dumps. If everyone knew the unlock date was October 15, they’d all sell on October 14. Randomized unlocks made that impossible. It forced holders to think long-term. If you wanted to trade, you had to wait - and you had to trust the network would be live and useful by then.

The unlock clock didn’t start when you claimed. It started when Midnight’s mainnet launched. And as of November 5, 2025, that launch hasn’t happened yet. So even if you claimed on day one, your tokens are still locked. You’re holding a promise - not liquidity.

Confused person with exchange logos marked X, trying to claim a NIGHT token using a new Cardano wallet.

What Happened to the Tokens Nobody Claimed?

About 40% of the 24 billion NIGHT tokens went unclaimed by the October 4 deadline. That’s nearly 10 billion tokens. They didn’t vanish. They didn’t get given to the team. They went into Phase Two: the Scavenger Mine.

This is where Midnight got clever. Instead of letting unclaimed tokens sit idle, they became a reward for solving public-good computational puzzles. Think of it like mining, but instead of using electricity to secure a blockchain, you’re using computing power to help test and improve Midnight’s privacy tech. The harder the puzzle, the more NIGHT you earn.

These puzzles aren’t just busywork. They’re used to stress-test the network, validate privacy proofs, and build the tools future apps will need. The people who solve them aren’t just getting tokens - they’re helping build the infrastructure of the network.

Any NIGHT left after the Scavenger Mine moves into Phase Three: Lost-and-Found. That’s a final chance for people who missed both the Glacier Drop and the mining phase. After mainnet launches, you might still be able to recover tokens - but only if you’re actively involved in the network.

Why This Airdrop Was Different

Most airdrops are marketing stunts. Midnight’s was a network bootstrap. Here’s what set it apart:

  • Cross-chain targeting - No other airdrop has reached eight major blockchains at once.
  • Algorithmic fairness - Eligibility was based on dollar value, not social media likes or Discord roles.
  • Self-custody requirement - Forced users to own their keys, aligning with decentralization ideals.
  • Three-phase distribution - No tokens were wasted. Everything went to active participants.
  • Extended vesting - Locked tokens for 360 days to prevent dumpers from killing the price.

It wasn’t designed to make people rich overnight. It was designed to build a community of long-term users - validators, developers, and privacy advocates. The team didn’t want speculators. They wanted builders.

Miners solving privacy puzzles in a blockchain cave, turning unclaimed NIGHT tokens into golden fragments.

What’s Next for Midnight and NIGHT?

The testnet is running. Developers are building privacy apps using the DUST token (Midnight’s gas token). The mainnet launch is expected in early 2026, but no date has been set. Once it goes live, the 360-day vesting period begins for everyone who claimed.

If you didn’t claim during the Glacier Drop, your only path now is the Scavenger Mine. You’ll need to set up a wallet, learn how to run the mining software, and solve puzzles. It’s not easy. But it’s fair. And if you succeed, you’ll be one of the few who helped build Midnight from the ground up.

Midnight’s goal isn’t just to be another privacy coin. It’s to prove you can have both transparency and privacy - without choosing one over the other. That’s a big deal. If it works, this airdrop will be remembered as the moment privacy went mainstream.

Can I still claim my Midnight (NIGHT) tokens from the Glacier Drop?

No. The Glacier Drop claiming window closed on October 4, 2025. If you didn’t claim by then, you missed the initial distribution. However, unclaimed tokens are now being redistributed through the Scavenger Mine phase, where you can earn NIGHT by solving computational puzzles that help build the Midnight network.

Why did I need a new Cardano wallet to claim NIGHT tokens?

Midnight is a Cardano sidechain, so all NIGHT tokens are issued on Cardano’s network. To prevent double claims and ensure security, the system required a fresh, unused Cardano wallet address. Existing wallets that had ever sent or received ADA were automatically rejected. This ensured only one claim per person and kept the distribution fair.

Were exchange wallets eligible for the Midnight airdrop?

No. Only self-custody wallets that held the required $100 worth of native assets on June 11, 2025, were eligible. Wallets on exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken were excluded unless the exchange actively participated in claiming on users’ behalf - which none did. This was intentional to ensure true decentralization and ownership.

When will my NIGHT tokens unlock after claiming?

Your NIGHT tokens are locked in a Cardano smart contract and will unlock in four equal parts over 360 days - 25% every 90 days. But the unlock times are randomized and only begin after Midnight’s mainnet launches. As of November 5, 2025, the mainnet has not gone live yet, so no tokens have unlocked. You’ll need to watch official Midnight announcements for the mainnet launch date.

What’s the difference between NIGHT and DUST tokens?

NIGHT is the utility token used for governance, staking, and participating in the network’s ecosystem. DUST is the gas token - it’s what you pay to send transactions, run privacy features, and interact with apps on Midnight. You earn NIGHT through airdrops and mining, but you need DUST to actually use the network. Think of NIGHT as ownership and DUST as fuel.

Is Midnight a scam because the claiming window closed?

No. Midnight is a legitimate project backed by the Cardano ecosystem and developed with input from Charles Hoskinson’s team. The closed claiming window was part of the design - it was never meant to be open forever. The project’s transparency, cross-chain eligibility, vesting schedule, and three-phase distribution model show a focus on long-term sustainability, not quick profits. The fact that unclaimed tokens are being redistributed through the Scavenger Mine proves the team is committed to fair distribution.

What Should You Do Now?

If you missed the Glacier Drop, don’t give up. Head to midnight.network and check out the Scavenger Mine. You’ll need a Cardano wallet, some basic tech skills, and time - but you can still earn NIGHT by helping build the network. This isn’t about getting free tokens anymore. It’s about earning them by contributing.

If you did claim your tokens, hold on. Don’t panic-sell when they unlock. The real value of Midnight won’t be in the price on day one - it’ll be in what you can build with it. The team isn’t trying to create a meme coin. They’re trying to create a new kind of blockchain - one where privacy isn’t an afterthought, but the foundation.

15 Comments

  1. Leo Lanham
    Leo Lanham

    This airdrop was a total scam disguised as innovation. They made it impossible on purpose so they could say 'oh look, only real degens claimed!' while quietly hoarding the unclaimed tokens. I smell a rug pull.

  2. gerald buddiman
    gerald buddiman

    Wait… so you had to create a BRAND NEW Cardano wallet?? No way I was doing that. I’ve got 17 wallets already and I barely remember my own birthday. And then they lock the tokens for a year?? Bro, I just wanted free crypto, not a 360-day emotional support token. 😭

  3. Becca Robins
    Becca Robins

    so like… if i didnt claim i can still mine? cool. but like… do i need a gpu? or can i use my phone? 🤔

  4. Janna Preston
    Janna Preston

    So the unclaimed tokens are being used for computational puzzles? That’s actually kind of brilliant. It turns FOMO into contribution. I didn’t claim, but I might try the Scavenger Mine just to see if I can solve one. Feels more meaningful than just buying tokens.

  5. Meagan Wristen
    Meagan Wristen

    I love how this wasn’t just another ‘like and retweet for tokens’ thing. It actually rewarded people who were already in the space, not just the ones chasing hype. I didn’t qualify, but I respect the design. It’s rare to see a project care this much about fairness.

  6. Whitney Fleras
    Whitney Fleras

    It’s okay if you missed it. You’re not behind. The real win is learning how these systems work. Maybe next time you’ll be ready. And hey - you’re already reading this, which means you care. That’s half the battle.

  7. Arjun Ullas
    Arjun Ullas

    The architectural design of this airdrop is a masterclass in decentralized incentive alignment. By enforcing self-custody, implementing randomized vesting, and redirecting unclaimed assets toward public-good computation, the Midnight team has created a novel mechanism that mitigates speculative capture while incentivizing infrastructure participation. This is not merely an airdrop - it is a socio-technical protocol for network bootstrapping.

  8. Brian Webb
    Brian Webb

    I actually claimed mine. Took me three days to figure out the signing thing - I kept using my Yoroi wallet and kept getting rejected. Finally found a Reddit thread that said ‘use a brand new wallet, even if you have to make one just for this.’ Made a fresh Lace wallet, signed the message, and boom - 87 million NIGHT. But they’re still locked. I’m not selling. I believe in this. It’s not about the price. It’s about what it could become.

  9. John Doe
    John Doe

    They’re lying. The mainnet launch is fake. They already sold all the tokens to whales before the airdrop even started. That’s why they locked them - to pretend they’re ‘building’ while the insiders dump on the next pump. I’ve seen this movie before. 🚨

  10. Michelle Sedita
    Michelle Sedita

    It’s funny how people call this a scam because they didn’t get free money. But what if the real gift was the lesson? Owning your keys. Understanding crypto beyond exchanges. Learning what ‘signing a message’ actually means. Maybe you didn’t get tokens - but you got smarter.

  11. Angie Martin-Schwarze
    Angie Martin-Schwarze

    i tried to claim but my phone kept crashing when i tried to connect my wallet… now i feel so dumb 😭 i just wanted free crypto and now i have nothing but regret and a broken phone

  12. Alexa Huffman
    Alexa Huffman

    For anyone thinking of trying the Scavenger Mine - start with the official Discord. There’s a step-by-step guide in the #mining-help channel. I’m a total newbie and I solved my first puzzle last week. Got 12k NIGHT. Not life-changing, but it feels good to earn it. And hey, I learned Rust. Bonus.

  13. Steven Lam
    Steven Lam

    People who didn’t claim are just lazy. If you can’t even set up a wallet then you don’t deserve crypto. Stop complaining and go learn something. This isn’t a game show.

  14. Colin Byrne
    Colin Byrne

    Let’s be clear: this is not a decentralized airdrop. It is a centralized distribution mechanism disguised as decentralization. The eligibility criteria are opaque, the wallet requirement is arbitrary, and the randomized unlock schedule is a psychological manipulation tool designed to suppress liquidity and create artificial scarcity. Furthermore, the entire structure relies on a single blockchain (Cardano) for final settlement, rendering the cross-chain eligibility a mere marketing gimmick. This is not innovation - it is complexity for the sake of obfuscation.

  15. Emily Unter King
    Emily Unter King

    Midnight’s three-phase distribution model represents a paradigm shift in tokenomics: Glacier Drop (eligibility-based), Scavenger Mine (computationally-contributed), and Lost-and-Found (network-activated). The randomized vesting schedule introduces entropy into the sell-pressure curve, effectively decoupling token utility from speculative timing. This is the first airdrop I’ve seen that treats holders as stakeholders, not ATM users.

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