TLDR
- The Midnight Network is now live, marking the beginning of activity on the series.
- The network was launched with NIGHT and DUST in a two-component model.
- Midnight uses a hybrid ledger to process public and private data.
- The rollout begins with consolidated node partners and a gradual path to decentralization.
- Launch partners include Google Cloud, MoneyGram, Worldpay, eToro, and Blockdaemon.
The Midnight Network has officially launched, marking the beginning of on-chain activity for the privacy-focused blockchain developed within the broader Cardano ecosystem. The launch delivers the basic building block of the network and opens the next phase for developers, partners and organizations planning to deploy applications and migrate assets to the platform.
According to the network’s announcement, Midnight is designed to support programmable privacy at the protocol level while maintaining compliance controls for real-world use cases. The project describes itself as a fourth-generation blockchain designed to address the limitations that have kept many traditional assets and institutions off-chain. These limits include data exposure in public ledgers, unpredictable transaction costs, and difficulty enforcing privacy and compliance rules within blockchain applications.
Midnight said the launch comes after years of research, engineering and ecosystem development. The network said that developers and organizations will now be able to start using its infrastructure as more local tools and services emerge online. The project framed this phase as the completion of the initial construction phase and the beginning of expanding the network on a larger scale.
– Midnight (@MidnightNtwrk) March 30, 2026
The midnight launch comes shortly after the Cardano Foundation announced its support for three live governance measures. In a year statementThe foundation said it voted yes on withdrawing liquidity budgeting from Cardano DeFi 1, the Cardano budget process framework facilitated by Intersect, and the Cardano x Draper Dragon Orion Fund.
The midnight launch brings privacy features to mainnet activity
the Network design Focused on privacy-enhancing infrastructure for regulated and commercial use. On-chain applications can combine public and private data through a hybrid ledger architecture, allowing sensitive information to remain protected while still enabling on-chain cryptographic verification, Midnight said.
The project also said it uses client-side proof generation, which means sensitive information remains on the user’s own device. In this setup, zero-knowledge proofs are generated locally and then sent to the network for validation. This architecture can support identity verification, compliance requirements and financial verification without exposing underlying data to the network, Midnight said.
Another feature introduced at launch is the ability to use both protected and unprotected assets. Hedging assets are designed to keep balances, counterparties, and transaction flows off the public ledger, while unprotected assets support more open interaction and exchange. This allows developers to choose how to implement privacy based on each app’s needs, Midnight said.
Charles Hoskinson, founder of Input Output, described the broader development path by saying:
“Satoshi gave us good money; Ethereum gave us the ability to program; Cardano brought us 3G interoperability, scale, and good governance. Midnight gives us back our identity and privacy.”
Two-component tokens and a phased offering constitute the next phase
Midnight also launched with a two-component economic model built around Night and Dust. NIGHT acts as a non-custodial governance and utility token, while DUST acts as a renewable resource that supports transactions, the network said. Instead of the standard gas model where a token is consumed for each action, DUST is generated from NIGHT collectibles and recharged over time.
This architecture aims to make transaction costs more predictable for applications and users, the project said. Developers can hold NIGHT to generate DUST for their services, allowing end users to interact with applications without directly holding volatile crypto assets. This model is designed to facilitate the use of blockchain infrastructure in mainstream and regulated environments, Midnight said.
the He releases It is also being addressed through a gradual rollout. The initial phase will work with federated node partners under clear coordination rules, with a long-term plan to move toward a fully decentralized network, Midnight said. The first launch partners identified by the project are Google Cloud, MoneyGram, Worldpay, Bullish, eToro, Pairpoint by Vodafone, Blockdaemon, AlphaTON Capital, and Shielded Technologies.
Midnight Foundation President Fahmy Sayed said the rollout is being structured to support stability and security as early applications move into production. The project stipulated that developers should continue testing in the Preprod environment before moving to the live network.
