Cardano And Midnight Land On Sony-Backed Japanese Exchange

A First for Privacy Tokens in Japan

Sony-affiliated crypto exchange S(.)BLOX has added Cardano ($ADA) and Midnight's $NIGHT token to its Japanese platform, effective August 24. The move marks the first time NIGHT has been offered by a registered crypto asset exchange in Japan.

Midnight is a project launched in 2022 by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, aiming to balance data protection with usability through zero-knowledge proof technology. The network combines zero-knowledge proofs, a dual-ledger architecture, and selective disclosure so applications can keep sensitive data confidential without giving up verification. NIGHT was initially issued on Cardano and, once Midnight is fully operational, will circulate at a 1:1 ratio between the two chains. The NIGHT token was launched in December 2025, and in March 2026, Cardano's privacy-focused sidechain Midnight officially went live.

The listing is also notable because no privacy coins or privacy-preserving infrastructure trading as coins were listed on the exchange until Midnight. S(.)BLOX is a subsidiary of Sony Group and has served as the core of the group's blockchain strategy since its acquisition by Sony On-Chain Technologies in August 2023, giving the listings additional weight in one of Asia's most tightly regulated digital asset markets.

Hoskinson Calls It a Regulatory Milestone

In a recent livestream, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson hailed the listing, especially for Midnight. According to Hoskinson, S(.)BLOX is the first Japanese exchange to list NIGHT in Japan, which marks a monumental milestone. Token listings have to go through an incredibly rigorous process with the JFSA, with relatively few tokens listed.

To mark the listings, S(.)BLOX is running promotional campaigns for both NIGHT and ADA through September 30, 2026. Eligible users can receive up to 14,000 yen (approximately $88) worth of NIGHT and up to 10,000 yen (approximately $63) worth of ADA.

Sources:
BigGo Finance: Sony-affiliated S(.)BLOX becomes first Japanese exchange to list privacy-focused NIGHT, adds ADA simultaneously
U.Today: Cardano Scores Major Japan Win as Sony-Linked Exchange Lists ADA
TradingView: Cardano Scores Major Japan Win as Sony-Linked Exchange Lists ADA