Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson Promises Cross-Chain Airdrop Targeting 37M Wallet Addresses

This cross-chain airdrop targets 37 million wallet addresses across eight major blockchains, including XRP Ledger, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson is known for his bold initiatives that often shake up the crypto world. At Consensus 2025 in Toronto, Hoskinson unveiled the Glacier Drop, a cross-chain airdrop that will deliver two new tokens to 37 million wallet addresses across eight major blockchains.

This move is a crucial part of the rollout for Midnight, Cardano’s highly anticipated privacy-centric sidechain, and it’s more than just a token giveaway. According to Hoskinson, the aim is to eliminate crypto tribalism and foster a more unified ecosystem.

Breaking the VC Mold With a Fair Launch

The project’s token launch will stand apart from typical projects driven by venture capital or early insider allocations. In a challenge to what he labelled the “VC Ponzi” model, only retail users will be eligible to receive the tokens.

The project will completely exclude venture capitalists and early investors from the distribution process.

The airdrop will deliver two new native tokens:

Retail holders across Cardano, XRP, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Bitcoin, BNB Chain, and BAT will be eligible for the tokens.

The tokens will come with no restrictions, allowing recipients to trade, hold, or ignore them as they see fit.

A Direct Response to Crypto Tribalism

This initiative is about more than just token economics. According to Hoskinson, the goal is to dismantle the toxic tribalism that has plagued the crypto industry for far too long.

Instead of encouraging rivalry between blockchain communities, Midnight aims to promote collaboration and coexistence.

“Every year at Consensus, someone stands up and says their coin is better than the rest. It’s time we move past that and build something that includes everyone,” said Hoskinson, aligning his sentiments with those of other crypto leaders.

Earlier this year, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called for greater unity across the digital asset space, and attorney John Deaton has also spoken out on the importance of cooperation in the industry.

Specifically, Garlinghouse proposed the idea of a U.S. crypto reserve that includes multiple crypto assets, rather than one that prioritises Bitcoin alone.

Midnight’s Multi-Chain Future

Midnight is a new economic model for blockchain development that offers significant advantages over conventional networks.

Developers will be able to pay gas fees using their native chain’s token—ETH for Ethereum, SOL for Solana, and so on—and validators from these blockchains will be able to contribute to Midnight’s security infrastructure and earn rewards, regardless of the network they originate from.

This multi-chain validation model supports the broader vision of interoperability and shared growth.

Currently operating on the testnet, the Midnight mainnet is expected to launch by late 2025. The development team continues to refine the protocol, and early feedback shows optimism about its potential impact.