Midnight’s Glacier Drop Is Live: How NIGHT and DUST Work, Who Can Claim, and What Wallets to Use

Executive brief. Midnight’s Glacier drop opens a claim window for eligible users. The drop revolves around two units that serve different jobs inside the Midnight ecosystem. Night is the primary network asset used to secure and govern the system where applicable. Dust is a lightweight unit designed for micro fees and on chain actions that should feel fast and cheap for end users. Below is a practical guide to understand the mechanics, verify eligibility, and claim safely.

What Night and Dust are meant to do

Night

• Core asset of the Midnight network.

• Used for staking or securing the network where the program supports it.

• May be the unit referenced for governance, deposits, and economic security.

• Expected to be the reference asset in major liquidity pairs on the network.

Dust

• Utility unit for micro fees and high frequency operations.

• Calibrated for small costs so applications can batch or stream actions without user friction.

• Useful for script invocations, small transfers, and machine to machine activity.

• Functions as a buffer that keeps Night focused on security and long term incentives.

Names and roles are project specific. Treat Night as the secure foundation and Dust as the operational lubricant that keeps day to day usage smooth.

Who can claim in Glacier

Eligibility is program defined. Expect one or more of the following to qualify.

• Snapshot holders who met balance criteria at a stated block height.

• Early testers who completed mandatory actions during test phases.

• Contributors or partners on an allowlist.

• Users who passed identity or residency checks if required by law.

How to check without risking funds
Open the official claim page only from a trusted entry in the project’s app or wallet. Connect a read only session if your wallet supports it. Enter your address for a view only eligibility check. Never paste seed phrases and never sign blind transactions.

Step by step claim guide

1. Prepare a supported wallet from the list below. Update to the latest version.

2. Confirm your address on a hardware device if available.

3. Visit the official claim flow from inside the app or from the project’s verified interface.

4. Connect your wallet and fetch eligibility.

5. Review the allocation details and any vesting or lockup schedule.

6. Sign the claim transaction with gas paid in Dust or in the network’s base fee unit if the flow requires it.

7. Wait for finality and verify receipt in the wallet activity panel.

8. Store a copy of the claim receipt, allocation hash, and any vesting schedule in your records.

Decision tree

Do you hold an address that was active before the snapshot

• Yes. Proceed to the claim check.

• No. You likely do not qualify for the snapshot cohort. Watch for future programs.

Did you participate in the test program with the same address

• Yes. You may have a tester allocation on top of any snapshot amount.

• No. Tester pools are usually closed to new entries after the deadline.

Is your region subject to restrictions

• If restricted, the interface may block claims or require an attestation.

• If unrestricted, continue with the standard flow.

Wallets that typically work best

• Native Midnight wallet or the network endorsed wallet if provided.

• Major ecosystem wallets that support the network’s signing standard and account model.

• Hardware wallets connected through those software wallets for secure signing.

• Custodial exchange accounts are usually not eligible for on chain claims. Move assets to a self custody wallet first if allowed and if you are qualified.

Setup tips
Use a fresh install on a clean device. Enable a hardware key path if supported. Turn on transaction simulation. Verify destination addresses on the device screen before signing.

Fees, vesting, and transfers

• Fees may be paid in Dust or another base unit depending on the chosen route.

• Vesting may unlock over time with a cliff and linear schedule. Plan around dates and do not expect full liquidity on day one.

• Transfers from the claim contract to external addresses should be tested with tiny amounts first. Some programs require that the initial claim stays at the receiving address until a checkpoint.

Security checklist

• Bookmark the official app and only use that entry.

• Reject any signature that requests unlimited spending unless you understand why it is needed.

• Confirm the contract or program identifier inside your wallet before signing.

• Keep your hardware wallet’s firmware and wallet software up to date.

• Beware of lookalike sites, fake support, and messages that urge you to reverify keys.

For developers and integrators

• Budget for Dust usage inside user flows so signatures remain simple.

• Expose fee estimates and confirmation targets before users sign.

• If your app abstracts gas with meta transactions, document who pays fees and how limits are enforced.

• Support read only eligibility checks to reduce risky signatures.

For European and UK users

• Be prepared for additional prompts if your provider implements local promotions or disclosure rules.

• If a custodial partner handles your claim, confirm how assets are segregated and what audit controls apply.

• Tax treatment depends on jurisdiction and on whether the grant is compensation, a rebate, or an airdrop. Keep the claim receipt.

FAQ

What happens if I miss the window
Most programs include a grace period or a final sweep. After the deadline, unclaimed allocations may be burned or moved to a community pool.

Can I change the claiming address
Rarely. Some programs allow a one time delegate or a migration step with strict checks. Expect limits.

Why are there two units
To separate security and incentive design from day to day fees. Night anchors long term economics. Dust keeps usage cheap and predictable for apps.

Will claiming affect my eligibility for future rounds
Usually not. Some programs require an initial claim to unlock future tranches. Read the schedule inside the app.

Bottom line

Treat Night as the backbone and Dust as the fuel. If you qualify, complete the claim with a supported wallet and store your receipts. Do not rush. The goal is to make the allocation usable without compromising keys, spending limits, or tax records.