Charles Hoskinson Unites Rival Blockchains With Glacier Drop Airdrop To End Crypto Tribalism

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson is again shaking up the crypto world, this time with a bold initiative to bridge the gaps between fragmented blockchain communities. Hoskinson officially unveiled the Glacier Drop during his appearance at Consensus 2025 in Toronto. This cross-chain airdrop targets 37 million wallet addresses across eight major blockchains, including XRP Ledger, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano.

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

Breaking the VC Mold With a Fair Launch

Hoskinson emphasised that Midnight’s token launch will stand apart from typical projects driven by venture capital or early insider allocations. In a direct challenge to what he labelled the “VC Ponzi” model, he confirmed that 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:

NIGHT, which will serve as a governance token, and
DUST, designed for enabling secure and private transactions within the Midnight ecosystem.

Retail holders across Cardano, XRP, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Bitcoin, BNB Chain, and BAT will be eligible. These tokens come with no restrictions, allowing recipients to trade, hold, or ignore them as they see fit.

A Direct Response to Crypto Tribalism

Hoskinson made it clear that this initiative is about more than token economics. He sees Glacier Drop as a strategic step toward dismantling toxic tribalism in the crypto industry. Rather than 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,” Hoskinson observed. “It’s time we move past that and build something that includes everyone.”

This inclusive philosophy aligns with sentiments echoed by other crypto leaders, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and attorney John Deaton, who have publicly called for greater unity across the digital asset space. Garlinghouse, for example, recently 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 more than just an airdrop; it’s a new economic model for blockchain development. In a significant departure from conventional networks, Midnight will allow developers to pay gas fees using their native chain’s token, ETH for Ethereum, SOL for Solana, and so on.

Moreover, 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.

More Than Just Tech—It’s a Cultural Shift

For Hoskinson, this project is deeply personal. “Midnight is the most fun I’ve had in crypto,” he shared at the event. “It’s where I finally get to be friends with everybody.”

Through the Glacier Drop and the broader Midnight initiative, Hoskinson aims to redefine how communities interact in the crypto space. By replacing competition with cooperation and exclusivity with inclusion, Midnight offers a refreshingly human approach to blockchain innovation.

As Big Tech prepares to enter the crypto scene more aggressively, Hoskinson believes building trust, privacy, and community across chains will be crucial for onboarding the next wave of users.

In a world often defined by fragmentation and rivalry, the Glacier Drop calls for unity, challenges the status quo, and offers a glimpse into a more collaborative future for Web3.