Midnight Launches Glacier Drop Using Hydra on Cardano
Midnight, a privacy-focused sidechain on Cardano, has launched the Glacier Drop distribution of its NIGHT token. The distribution uses Hydra, Cardano’s native Layer 2 scaling solution.
This setup enables the network to process thousands of transactions per second. It maintains security and decentralization through a network of independent operators.
Six partners manage the Hydra Heads to validate token claims and finalize transactions on-chain. These partners are Blockdaemon, Alchemy, Input Output Engineering (IOE), BitGo, Sundae Labs, and Anastasia Labs.
Hydra Enables Large-Scale Token Distribution
Hydra allows Midnight to distribute tokens at scale without congesting Cardano’s mainnet. It processes transactions off-chain and posts consolidated results on-chain. This reduces fees and increases throughput.
The Glacier Drop is a multi-phase token distribution. It serves as one of Hydra’s first large-scale real-world tests. This helps evaluate Cardano’s scaling infrastructure under stress.
Google Cloud Partnership Supports Privacy and Scalability
The Hydra deployment follows Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson’s announcement of Google Cloud joining the Midnight Foundation as an infrastructure partner. The partnership focuses on privacy-preserving data management.
This collaboration highlights Midnight’s focus on scalability and regulatory-grade privacy. Together, the Hydra distribution and Google Cloud partnership mark Midnight’s shift from research to practical application within Cardano.
