Highlights from the first day of Consensus 2025 include:

1. Charles Hoskinson introduced the Glacier Drop airdrop plan, which will distribute NIGHT and DUST tokens to 37 million wallets across 8 blockchains, excluding venture capital investors and emphasizing the rights of retail users.
2. Worldcoin responded to privacy concerns; advisor Liam Horne stated that iris scan data "has never left the device," and the project is expanding Orb devices to six cities in the United States.
3. SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci predicted that Bitcoin reaching a price of $500,000 will prompt full institutional acceptance of crypto assets, highlighting the importance of ETFs and regulatory clarity.
4. Executives from Ripple and Kraken stated that stablecoins are entering the mainstream financial phase; Ripple's RLUSD aims to improve cross-border payment systems and explore cooperation with officials from the United Arab Emirates.

These points reflect the latest developments and future trends in the crypto industry, covering airdrops, privacy protection, institutional investment, and payment innovation.

HIGHLIGHTS The first day of Consensus 2025 sees Hoskinson reveal details for the Glacier Drop airdrop. Worldcoin clarifies that scanned data “never leaves the device." Scaramucci says a Bitcoin price of $500K will trigger a full institutional embrace. From a token airdrop set to hit 37 million wallets to iris-scanning devices defending their reputation, Day 1 of Consensus 2025 didn’t disappoint. Crypto heavyweights like Ripple took the stage in Toronto with big visions, bold claims, and even a few f-bombs.&nbsp;

Whether it was Charles Hoskinson rejecting VCs, Worldcoin pushing back on privacy critics, or Anthony Scaramucci pitching Bitcoin’s path to $500K, there was no shortage of heat. Here are the biggest takeaways from the first day of the industry’s flagship event.
Charles Hoskinson Speaks of 'Glacier Drop' at Consensus 2025
The agenda for Consensus 2025 is filled with sessions across DeFi, tokenomics, DAOs, and real-world blockchain use cases. And the start was no less than a blockbuster.

Charles Hoskinson opened Day 1 of the Consensus 2025 event by calling out tribalism in crypto and dropped fresh details on Midnight’s upcoming Glacier Drop. The Cardano founder disclosed at the crypto-themed conference that 37 million wallets across eight blockchains will receive the Glacier airdrop, excluding all venture capitalists.

“You already have it. It’s yours. It’s your property,” he said on stage, emphasizing that retail users, not insiders, deserve access.

The airdrop will distribute both NIGHT (governance) and DUST (privacy) tokens. Midnight’s “cooperative economics” model allows developers to pay fees in native tokens like ETH, SOL, or BTC while validators earn rewards across chains.

Midnight is still in testnet, with mainnet launch set for late 2025. Hoskinson said the project is his “most fun yet,” built to unite crypto’s fragmented communities.
Worldcoin Fires Back: “Orb Data Never Leaves”
Worldcoin’s iris-scanning tech has drawn global privacy backlash, but advisor Liam Horne defended the project at the event. Speaking at Consensus 2025, Horne said critics misunderstood the internal workings of the Worldcoin's orb
“The data literally never leaves the orb,” said Liam Horne
The device scans a user’s iris, converting it into a privacy-preserving World ID. That data stays local. Still, Worldcoin faces scrutiny in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The team is now expanding Orb access to six U.S. cities, including Miami, Los Angeles, and Austin.
Scaramucci: Bitcoin at $500K Would “Seal It” as Asset Class
SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci said Bitcoin hitting $500,000 would force institutions to fully accept crypto.

“Three trillion is a mag 7 stock. Twenty trillion is an asset class,” he told the panel at Consensus 2025. Other speakers highlighted spot Bitcoin ETFs, infrastructure growth, and regulatory clarity as major enablers of institutional adoption.

Still, they warned: education and diversification beyond Bitcoin are key. ETFs may lead the way, but broader blockchain investment is needed for the full asset-class transition.
Ripple and Kraken: Stablecoins Are the Future of Payments
At Consensus 2025, Ripple and Kraken execs said stablecoins are entering a new phase—beyond crypto, into mainstream finance.

Jack McDonald of Ripple said at Consensus 2025 that the firm’s RLUSD is part of a broader push to fix outdated cross-border systems. Mark Greenberg of Kraken called stablecoins a “tipping point” for global money movement.

In other news, Ripple's executives met UAE officials to discuss a potential collaboration, stoking bullish XRP sentiments.

Summary of Day 1 at Consensus 2025: Glacier Airdrop Plan, Worldcoin Privacy Response, and Ripple Stablecoin Outlook