Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Ledger Fix Unlocks NIGHT Tokens for Broader Claims

Bitcoin holders may now be able to claim their allocated NIGHT tokens from the Midnight network following the resolution of a Ledger-related issue that had previously hindered the process. The Midnight sidechain, part of the Cardano ecosystem, launched its Glacier Drop airdrop in early August, targeting users with a minimum of $100 in crypto across eight major blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano. However, complications arose for Bitcoin users utilizing Ledger devices, as some faced errors indicating no eligible addresses were found. This issue was recently resolved, allowing users to claim tokens for all eligible Bitcoin addresses under the same Ledger wallet. Midnight Foundation confirmed that previous limitations—where only the first Bitcoin address was recognized—have been corrected. Each address must now be claimed individually, but the fix ensures broader participation [1].

The airdrop, which is part of the Midnight Foundation’s strategy to boost adoption, has already distributed 1.3 billion NIGHT tokens across 69,000 wallets as of August 19, representing 5.5% of the total supply. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has actively refuted claims of hoarding, dismissing them as misinformation and highlighting the positive momentum behind the airdrop. The controversy had been fueled by a circulating meme on X that suggested the majority of tokens might eventually return to Hoskinson, an assertion he strongly denied with data-backed responses. Despite these challenges, the airdrop has maintained a steady rate of adoption, with early claims exceeding 250 million tokens within the first 24 hours [2].

Midnight is also expanding its institutional outreach through partnerships such as the recent collaboration with Fireblocks, a leading digital asset platform. This partnership enables institutional clients to securely claim, store, and transact with NIGHT tokens, reinforcing Midnight’s commitment to institutional-grade security and transparency. Fireblocks emphasized that supporting the Glacier Drop aligns with its mission to enable secure blockchain participation, and it expressed confidence in Midnight’s privacy-focused vision. Additionally, NIGHT tokens are being distributed across multiple blockchain ecosystems, with 50% reserved for ADA holders, 5% for XRP holders, and the remainder allocated to users on other chains, including Bitcoin [2].

Beyond the airdrop, the Cardano development team is also taking steps to improve smart contract security. IOHK, the organization behind Cardano, has announced a reevaluation of its approach to smart contract security, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive and lifecycle-focused tools. These tools are expected to be released incrementally throughout 2025, with a focus initially on Plinth, the new Cardano smart contract language. As the ecosystem evolves, the goal is to ensure that advanced security techniques are accessible to all developers, fostering trust and innovation [1].

The 60-day claim period for the Glacier Drop is designed to distribute tokens equitably, with analysts suggesting that the final days could see a surge in claims as remaining users finalize their participation. The extended window also allows for broader distribution and potentially larger payouts for remaining holders. Midnight’s launch has been marked by strategic decisions aimed at ensuring transparency, security, and broad participation, reflecting a deliberate approach to building a sustainable and privacy-focused blockchain ecosystem [2].

Source:

[1] Cardano Midnight Reveals Crucial Update for Bitcoin Holders Details (https://u.today/cardano-midnight-reveals-crucial-update-for-bitcoin-holders-details)

[2] Cardano Founder Refutes Midnight Token Hoarding Rumors as Airdrop Claims Hit 1.3B (https://coingape.com/cardano-founder-refutes-midnight-token-hoarding-rumors-as-airdrop-claims-hit-1-3b/)