Midnight, a privacy-focused blockchain network backed by Cardano (ADA) founder Charles Hoskinson, has officially launched its mainnet.
In the network’s initial stages, the participation of major institutions such as Google Cloud and MoneyGram as node operators was noteworthy.
Midnight offers an infrastructure designed to provide end-to-end programmable privacy. The network’s technical architecture includes features such as a hybrid ledger structure, client-side zero-knowledge proofs, shielded and unshielded assets, and selective disclosure. This structure aims to enable users to meet both privacy and compliance requirements simultaneously.
On the economic model side, Midnight adopts a dual token structure. The NIGHT token is used for governance and the production of network resources, while these resources are represented by a second unit called DUST. DUST is used to pay transaction fees and has a “battery-like” replenishment mechanism.
To simplify the developer experience, a special programming language called “Compact,” based on TypeScript, is also used on the network. This approach aims to make the development of complex technologies, such as zero-knowledge proofs, more accessible.
Midnight can be described as a blockchain that complements Cardano, developed within the Cardano ecosystem and operating using its security, acting as a privacy-focused partner chain.
*This is not investment advice.
