Words matter
It is a universal truth that statements by prominent figures impact trading markets.
This is especially true of the crypto space, where analysts cling to every word to establish whether something major is on the horizon.
Utterances by crypto founders, co-founders, CEOs, chief technology officers (CTOs) and development heads draw special attention.
So, when the likes of Ripple CTO David Schwartz publicly acknowledges Cardano sidechain Midnight, the buzz around what this could mean is deafening – and understandably so.
’Midnight is real’
Schwartz, known for his dry humour, was both sarcastic and factual in declaring: “Midnight is real” in an X post two weeks after Midnight’s launch in late 2025.
What prompted his three-word response were comments by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson that there were parallels between Midnight and Ripple’s XRP Ledger.
Hoskinson pointed out similarities between the two platforms’ privacy features and scale.
Even though Schwartz’s response was brief, it carried weight.
The reason is that he has been a long-time crusader for privacy features in blockchain and privacy is one of Midnight’s biggest selling points.
NIGHT timing
Midnight was launched to enhance privacy and security on the Cardano network in the wake of concerns being expressed over data protection and transparency in decentralised finance (DeFi).
Midnight has its own native token called NIGHT, which has the potential to enable decentralised applications (dApps) for finance.
Many analysts believe that NIGHT adoption could increase exponentially, boosting both the token’s and ADA to USD price due to greater exposure.
Hoskinson, a figure who tends to use a few more words than Schwartz when making public statements, has hailed Midnight as the “fastest-growing project we have ever built because it is much needed”.
He says people are starting to recognise that privacy is not a given.
As stated previously, it is a view strongly shared by Schwartz.
Speculation has merit
While in most cases it is best to dismiss speculation, the suggestion that at some point there could be a collaboration between Cardano and Ripple is not without at least some merit.
For one, Schwartz has never been one to acknowledge the offerings of rival cryptos. In this case, he did.
The other point to consider is that the Midnight airdrop was offered to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and XRP – “especially XRP”, Hoskinson said in a YouTube video that already aired in September 2025.
Thirdly, both Cardano and Ripple would have heeded a warning from prominent American investor and billionaire Mike Novogratz that both platforms needed to start showing practical business value.
It is worth noting that Schwart’s acknowledgement of Midnight came shortly after Novogratz’s comments.
Finally, neither Hoskinson nor Schwartz have moved to play down the wave of speculation around a possible collaboration.
From what has been said or not said, there is more than enough to suggest that the possibility cannot be ruled out.
Something big brewing?
The crypto landscape is in a constant state of flux and even the smallest, seemingly most innocuous development can tilt the market one way or the other.
Based on the recent interaction between the two Cardano and Ripple representatives, something big may well be brewing.