A fundamental conflict exists between participation and privacy. To use online services, we are forced to expose our data, while true privacy often requires us to disconnect entirely. This is a false choice.
The Midnight Foundation believes that privacy isn't a binary state of 100% public or 100% private. To date, blockchains have been built with pervasive transparency as a fundamental concept, making transactions 100% public, a practice that doesn’t mirror our day-to-day needs. The Midnight network will address this problem through rational privacy, which gives individuals and enterprises granular control to determine what information is shared, with whom, and for what purpose.
A network that delivers rational privacy must be open to all. The distribution of the NIGHT token is the foundational event designed to achieve this. By lowering the technical and financial barriers common in Web3, the process ensures broad and fair participation from day one. It begins with the Glacier Drop Claim Phase, the first of three phases, extending an open invitation to claim a stake in the network.
Reasons to participate
With tens of millions of wallets eligible, the NIGHT token distribution is an open invitation to help shape the future of rational privacy for Web3. Here are three reasons to take part:
- Pioneer the next generation of blockchain: As Midnight Foundation President Fahmi Syed puts it, "We believe at Midnight we're bringing the next generation of blockchain. Without privacy at its heart, Web3 will not see mass adoption.” Participation means joining a community that is building this essential, missing piece of the infrastructure for a more private and functional future for the internet.
- Build with powerful privacy tools: Claiming the NIGHT token grants access to DUST, the shielded utility token that powers private transactions and smart contracts on Midnight. This provides the key to start building with rational privacy features.
- Join the community-first distribution: The NIGHT token is free to claim because the goal is to get the token into the hands of the community first and foremost. Fahmi Syed said, “We want you to claim your stake, come take a look at what Midnight does, and use it. It's an open invitation to come and build on the network, to innovate with its unique features, and to own a piece of the network you are helping to create.”
When to claim
The distribution of NIGHT is designed as a multi-phase process to ensure fair access. Each phase offers more opportunities to take part in the inception of the Midnight network.
The token distribution will take place across three distinct phases:
- Phase 1: Glacier Drop Claim is open to current Web3 participants across eight ecosystems with an allocation based on a historical on-chain snapshot.
- Phase 2: Scavenger Mine is an interactive phase designed to reward active engagement and community participation and is open to anyone.
- Phase 3: Lost & Found is a final opportunity for any remaining eligible participants who missed the Glacier Drop claim window to participate.
This article will detail the eligibility and claiming process for the Glacier Drop phase. A recent blog on the TGE website provides more detail about Phases 2 and 3.
Further details regarding the Phase 1 start date will be provided in July this year.
Who is eligible
Eligibility for the Glacier Drop is determined by a historical snapshot of on-chain data which was taken on June 11, 2025. The criteria are straightforward and designed to ensure fair and secure distribution without requiring any personally identifiable information.
To be eligible, an address must meet the following conditions:
- Eligible ecosystem: the address must be from one of eight networks: Cardano, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRPL, BNB Chain, Avalanche, or Brave.
- Minimum balance: at the time of the snapshot, the address must have held a balance equivalent to at least $100 USD in its network's native token (e.g., ADA, BTC, ETH). This helps mitigate bot activity and ensures genuine community participation.
- Unsanctioned: blockchain addresses listed on the US Treasury's OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list are not eligible to participate.
One individual can make claims from multiple qualifying addresses.
How tokens are allocated
The allocation of NIGHT tokens during the Glacier Drop phase reflects a commitment to building on the foundations laid by existing communities. The distribution is:
- 50% of the total supply is allocated to Cardano participants.
- 20% of the total supply is allocated to Bitcoin participants.
- 30% of the total supply is divided among the remaining six ecosystems, with individual allocations determined in proportion to the relative US dollar value of their eligible token holdings at the time of the snapshot.
How to claim
Claiming your allocated NIGHT tokens is a simple, two-step process designed to be secure and private:
- Demonstrate custody: You will need to prove ownership of your eligible address by cryptographically signing a message with your private key. This is a standard procedure that confirms you control the wallet without exposing your keys.
- Provide a destination address: You must provide a new, unused Cardano address to receive tokens.
The Glacier Drop is the first step in a journey toward a more private, functional, and fairly distributed internet. For further details, read the Midnight tokenomics and incentives whitepaper. Bookmark the TGE website to follow and participate in every stage of the free, multi-phase distribution of NIGHT tokens.
Have more questions? Check out the official token distribution Q&A.