Midnight launches NIGHT on Cardano: over 4.5 billion tokens

Midnight, the fourth-generation blockchain aiming to bring rational privacy to the Web3 world, takes a crucial step towards the launch of its mainnet.

On December 4, 2025, at 13:00 GMT, Midnight TGE, the entity responsible for the distribution of the native token NIGHT, announced the debut of NIGHT on Cardano.

This event marks the opening of redemption requests for over 4.5 billion NIGHT tokens already claimed during the Glacier Drop and Scavenger Mine phases, establishing one of the most participated and extensive distributions in the recent history of blockchain.

The Distribution of NIGHT: Unprecedented Participation

The launch of NIGHT on Cardano is not just a technical milestone, but also a moment of significant community engagement.

During the Glacier Drop and Scavenger Mine phases, participation reached record levels, with millions of users involved in the token request.

The redemption phase will officially open on December 10, allowing participants to redeem their NIGHT through a dedicated portal that will be activated shortly before the opening.

The remaining portion of the NIGHT supply will be distributed to the network’s key stakeholders, as detailed in the tokenomics paper published by the Midnight Foundation earlier this year.

An Innovative Model for Privacy and Governance

Midnight is introduced as a new Layer 1 blockchain designed to offer users advanced control over on-chain shared data, thanks to the use of zero-knowledge proofs and a unique tokenomics model.

NIGHT is the central token of the Midnight ecosystem: it allows users to utilize the network, participate in consensus, and engage in governance decisions that will guide the future development of the platform.

According to Fahmi Syed, president of the Midnight Foundation, “the community can now hold their own NIGHT, review the unlocking schedules, and prepare to actively participate in a network that brings essential privacy infrastructure to the entire sector.”

NIGHT and DUST: utility and resources for the new blockchain

With the launch of the mainnet, NIGHT will take on an even more central role, becoming the generator of DUST, the renewable resource necessary to execute secure transactions and smart contract operations on the Midnight network.

This model, unique in the industry, is designed to ensure predictable network capacity and to enable transactions that protect privacy without sacrificing verifiability and transparency.

The Redemption Schedule: Glacier Drop and the “Thawing” Strategy

The redemption phase of the Glacier Drop will commence on December 10 at 00:00 UTC. The redemption portal will allow participants to preview their NIGHT allocations and the corresponding unlocking schedule (“thawing”).

The thawing process will follow the schedule outlined in the tokenomics paper: each allocation will be unlocked in four equal installments distributed over 360 days, with the first unlocking date randomly assigned within the first 90 days and the subsequent ones every 90 days.

This gradual unlocking strategy has been designed to ensure an equitable distribution of tokens and to support the growth of the Midnight ecosystem through its various phases, from the testnet to the fully decentralized mainnet.

Further details on the redemption methods will be communicated through Midnight’s official channels in the coming days.

A Clear Roadmap Towards Decentralization

The decision for a gradual unlocking of NIGHT tokens reflects Midnight’s commitment to following a transparent and resilient roadmap towards decentralization.

“The gradual thawing is intentional and aligned with our phased approach, designed to provide a clear and responsible trajectory towards decentralization, ensuring the ecosystem can mature reliably for partners and the community,” emphasized Syed.

The launch of NIGHT provides immediate utility and liquidity to the community, while the team continues to work on the foundations of the mainnet, scheduled for early next year.

A Multi-Chain Asset: NIGHT on Midnight and Cardano

With the launch of the mainnet, the total supply of NIGHT will also be mirrored on the Midnight ledger, creating a multi-chain asset whose circulation will be possible on both Midnight and Cardano.

A protocol-level mechanism will ensure that the tokens can be fully unlocked only on one of the two chains at a time, preventing any duplication of value during the transfer between ecosystems.

Expanding Ecosystem: Wallets, Exchanges, and Partners

In the coming days, major exchanges, custodians, and wallets are expected to announce their support for NIGHT, further expanding the token’s accessibility and liquidity ahead of the mainnet launch.

The integration of new wallets, infrastructures, and services will continue to strengthen the Midnight ecosystem, supporting the network’s growth and community participation.

Who are Midnight TGE and the Midnight Foundation

Midnight TGE is the entity responsible for the initial generation and distribution of NIGHT, created to support the launch and decentralization of the Midnight ecosystem, ensuring that the token distribution follows the guidelines set out in the tokenomics paper.

The Midnight Foundation is dedicated to the development and adoption of the Midnight network, a privacy-focused blockchain project developed in collaboration with Shielded Technologies.

The foundation promotes the creation of privacy-enabled smart contracts and encourages developers to build applications compliant with selective disclosure, leveraging zero-knowledge proofs and a cooperative tokenomic architecture that sees NIGHT as the utility token and DUST as the operational resource.

Conclusions: Privacy, Security, and Decentralization at the Core

The launch of NIGHT on Cardano and the opening of redemption requests mark a crucial moment for Midnight and the entire blockchain sector.

Thanks to an innovative model that combines privacy, security, and decentralization, Midnight is set to offer a new infrastructure for Web3 applications, where users can finally have control over their data without sacrificing transparency and compliance.

For more information, you can visit the official websites of the Midnight Foundation and Midnight TGE.