Glacier Drop Crypto: What the Airdrop Was and What Holders…

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Midnight's Glacier Drop allocated 24 billion NIGHT tokens across eight major blockchain networks.
2. Cardano holders received 50% of the total allocation, while Bitcoin holders claimed 20%, and six other networks split the remaining 30% proportionally.
3. Eligible wallets needed at least $100 in supported assets at the June 11, 2025, snapshot, and all holdings had to remain in self-custody wallets.
4. The 76-day claim window ran from August 5 through October 20, 2025, after being extended by 16 days, and unclaimed tokens entered a computational redistribution phase called the Scavenger Mine.
5. NIGHT tokens unlock in four quarterly installments of 25% each over 360 days, with a randomized initial thaw period ranging from one to 90 days.

The Midnight blockchain launched one of the largest crypto airdrops in recent memory through its Glacier Drop in 2025. The distribution covered 24 billion NIGHT tokens across eight blockchain networks. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson called it the most generous airdrop in Cardano history, according to CoinGabbar reporting.Midnight is a privacy-focused partner chain built alongside the Cardano ecosystem using zero-knowledge cryptography, and the NIGHT token powers transactions and governance on this network. This article covers who qualified, how allocations were divided, and what the vesting schedule means for holders.

How the Glacier Drop Allocated 24 Billion NIGHT Tokens

Midnight set June 11, 2025, as the snapshot date for wallet eligibility across all supported chains. Wallets needed at least $100 worth of native tokens at the snapshot. Exchange-held assets did not qualify because centralized platforms prevent private key message signing, BeInCrypto reported.Cardano holders received 12 billion tokens, representing 50% of the total 24 billion NIGHT supply. Bitcoin holders received 4.8 billion tokens, the second-largest share at 20% of the total distribution. Six additional networks shared the remaining 7.2 billion tokens on a proportional basis.Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Binance Coin, Avalanche, and Basic Attention Token holders each received proportional shares. Users holding assets on multiple eligible chains could qualify for allocations from each one separately. The allocation structure reflected Midnight's origins as a Cardano partner chain, giving ADA the largest individual stake.

The Claim Process and What Holders Had to Do

The claim portal opened on August 5, 2025, and remained accessible through October 20, 2025, after Midnight extended the original claim period by 16 days. Users accessed the portal through midnight.gd or midnight.network to begin the verification process. The claim required connecting an eligible wallet and signing a cryptographic proof-of-ownership message, MEXC research noted.Claimants also needed to provide a Cardano CIP30-compatible wallet address as the destination for tokens. The process charged no claiming fees, removing a common friction point seen in other airdrop distributions. The announcement coincided with the Rare Evo event held August 6 through August 10 in 2025.Self-custody was the single non-negotiable requirement, ensuring only private key holders could participate. Midnight extended the original claim deadline by 16 days, moving the closing date to October 20, 2025. The extended window gave eligible claimants additional time to complete the process before unclaimed tokens moved into the next phase.

Vesting Schedule and Unclaimed Token Redistribution

NIGHT tokens did not unlock immediately, following a structured vesting schedule over 360 total days. Each claimant received tokens in four equal installments of 25% released at 90-day intervals. A randomized initial thaw period of one to 90 days added variation to first access timing.The staggered release prevented a sudden flood of tokens from hitting the open market after claiming. Midnight added the randomized thaw element, which further dispersed initial selling pressure across a wider window. Graduated vesting is a common mechanism in large distributions to maintain price stability during early trading.Tokens unclaimed after the October 20, 2025, deadline entered the Scavenger Mine redistribution phase, which ran from October 30 to November 19, 2025. Users could earn unclaimed tokens through computational proof-of-work tasks during this period.The four-year Lost-and-Found phase is gated on Midnight's mainnet launch and applies to original eligible claimants who missed the earlier claim windows.

What's Next?

NIGHT launched as a Cardano native token on December 4, 2025, and began trading on major exchanges; Midnight's own mainnet remained a 2026 milestone. The final quarterly vesting unlock for early Glacier Drop claimants began around September 6, 2026, for the earliest starters and is expected to continue through late November 2026, depending on each destination address's randomized starting date. The Lost-and-Found phase is a four-year window that runs from Midnight's mainnet launch, which began with the genesis block on March 30, 2026.The project's focus on zero-knowledge privacy positions it within a growing blockchain infrastructure sector. Market participants should note that token distributions carry inherent volatility risk during vesting unlock periods.

FAQs

What was the Glacier Drop in crypto? The Glacier Drop was Midnight blockchain's one-time airdrop, offering 24 billion NIGHT tokens across eight major cryptocurrency networks to eligible self-custody wallet holders.How many NIGHT tokens did Cardano holders receive? Cardano holders received 12 billion NIGHT tokens, representing 50% of the total 24 billion supply, making them the single largest recipient group overall.What was the minimum balance needed to qualify for the Glacier Drop? Eligible wallets needed at least $100 worth of supported native tokens at the June 11, 2025, snapshot date, held exclusively in self-custody wallets.How long was the Glacier Drop claim window open? The claim portal was open for 76 days, from August 5 through October 20, 2025, after Midnight extended the original deadline by 16 days. Unclaimed tokens then moved into the Scavenger Mine redistribution phase.What happened to unclaimed NIGHT tokens after the deadline passed? Unclaimed tokens entered the Scavenger Mine, which ran from October 30 to November 19, 2025, where users could earn them through computational tasks. The Lost-and-Found phase is a separate four-year window that opens after mainnet launch.How does the NIGHT token vesting schedule work for Glacier Drop recipients? NIGHT tokens unlock in four quarterly installments of 25% each over 360 days, with a randomized initial thaw period ranging between one and 90 days.What is the Midnight blockchain, and why does it use NIGHT tokens? Midnight is a Cardano partner chain using zero-knowledge cryptography for data privacy, and NIGHT serves as its native token for transactions and governance.

References

1. How to Claim NIGHT Tokens in Midnight's Glacier Drop (BeInCrypto)
2. Midnight Airdrop Explained: Everything About The Glacier Drop (MEXC Research)
3. ADA Holders to Get 50% of Night Airdrop Tokens (CoinGabbar)
4. Midnight Blockchain Launches: Cardano Privacy Solution (CryptoRank)