Charles Hoskinson Addresses Glacier Airdrop Issue Affecting Some Cardano Users

A technical limitation in Ledger’s wallet software has prevented some Cardano users from claiming their tokens in the Glacier Drop airdrop. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson revealed that the issue, reported since July, remains unresolved but a temporary workaround is being deployed to keep claims on track. The NIGHT token airdrop is a key part of the broader Midnight rollout, spanning eight ecosystems to ensure fair access. While most wallets process claims without issues, Ledger device users face a problem due to message-signing size limits. To claim the tokens, users must sign a message following the CIP-8 standard to prove wallet ownership. However, Ledger currently caps message size at 31 bytes, whereas the Glacier Drop message is 251 bytes long. This mismatch prevents Ledger users from completing the verification step and claiming their NIGHT tokens. Hoskinson explained that the Ledger issue was flagged in July, but no timeline for an official fix has been provided. In response, his team implemented a temporary hack common in the NFT space: signing a null transaction with the 251-byte Glacier Drop payload included as metadata. Bob Blessing Hartley, CTO at Shielded Technologies (behind the Midnight Network), described a parallel approach. After testing hundreds of wallet combinations, they found hardware wallet claims conflicted with Glacier Drop’s security principles. They developed a new claim method for Ledger users using a zero-value transaction embedding claim data as metadata, visible on Ledger screens for user approval. This method has been widely tested and meets security standards. Fahmi Syed, president of the Midnight Foundation, acknowledged the message-signing challenge and noted Ledger’s CIP-8 implementation raises safety concerns. Protecting user assets remains a priority, and teams continue collaborating on long-term solutions. Despite the Ledger software setback, the Glacier Drop distribution timeline remains unchanged:

• NIGHT token allocations are fixed based on a historical ADA snapshot.
• Claims can be made anytime during the two-month window without affecting token amounts.
• The secure workaround enables Ledger users to claim despite message size limits.
• The revised claim method is undergoing final audits and expected to go live the week of August 25.
• Over 120 million NIGHT tokens were claimed within hours of launch, with strong engagement across all supported chains.
Users are urged to avoid unofficial or unverified platforms, as fraudulent websites mimicking the Glacier Drop interface have appeared, potentially targeting Ledger users. Efforts are underway to detect and remove such scams to protect the community.

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Source: Charles Hoskinson Addresses Glacier Airdrop Issue Affecting Some Cardano Users

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Glacier Airdrop and Cardano Users

Q: What is the Glacier Drop airdrop? A: The Glacier Drop is an airdrop associated with the NIGHT token, which is part of the broader Midnight network rollout. It aims to provide fair access across eight ecosystems. Q: Why are some Cardano users unable to claim their Glacier Drop tokens? A: Some Cardano users, specifically those using Ledger hardware wallets, are facing issues due to a technical limitation in Ledger's wallet software. This limitation restricts the size of messages that can be signed, and the Glacier Drop message exceeds this limit. Q: What is the specific technical issue preventing claims? A: The issue stems from Ledger's current message-signing size limit of 31 bytes, while the Glacier Drop requires signing a message of 251 bytes according to the CIP-8 standard. Q: Has Charles Hoskinson or his team provided a solution? A: Yes, as a temporary workaround, Hoskinson's team has implemented a method commonly used in the NFT space: signing a null transaction with the Glacier Drop payload included as metadata. Shielded Technologies has also developed a similar method using zero-value transactions with claim data embedded as metadata. Q: When is the revised claim method expected to be live for Ledger users? A: The revised claim method is undergoing final audits and is expected to go live the week of August 25. Q: Are token allocations affected by this issue? A: No, the NIGHT token allocations remain fixed based on a historical ADA snapshot, and claims can be made anytime during the two-month window without affecting the allocated token amounts. Q: What should users do to avoid scams related to the Glacier Drop? A: Users are strongly advised to avoid unofficial or unverified platforms, as fraudulent websites mimicking the Glacier Drop interface have emerged, potentially targeting Ledger users.

Crypto Market AI's Take

The technical challenges encountered with the Glacier Drop airdrop highlight the complexities of integrating new token distribution mechanisms with established hardware wallet security protocols. While Cardano's ecosystem continues to innovate with initiatives like Midnight and its associated airdrops, it also underscores the ongoing need for seamless compatibility between blockchain projects and hardware wallet providers. Our platform focuses on providing AI-driven insights and tools to navigate such market dynamics, ensuring users have access to accurate information and secure methods for interacting with various crypto projects. The rapid claiming of millions of NIGHT tokens also demonstrates strong community engagement and demand for new digital assets within the Cardano ecosystem.

More to Read:

• Understanding Cardano's Midnight Network Rollout
• Best Hardware Wallets for Cryptocurrency Security
• How to Safely Claim Airdrops