Midnight Network Goes Live as Cardano Foundation Advances Key Governance Votes

TLDR

• Midnight Network is now live, marking the start of on-chain activity.
• The network launched with NIGHT and DUST in a dual-component model.
• Midnight uses a hybrid ledger for public and private data processing.
• The rollout begins with federated node partners and a phased path to decentralization.
• Launch partners include Google Cloud, MoneyGram, Worldpay, eToro, and Blockdaemon.

Midnight Network has officially launched, marking the start of on-chain activity for the privacy-focused blockchain developed within the broader Cardano ecosystem. The launch introduces the network’s genesis block and opens the next stage for developers, partners, and institutions planning to deploy applications and migrate assets to the platform.

According to the network announcement, Midnight is designed to support programmable privacy at the protocol level while preserving 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. Those limits include data exposure on public ledgers, unpredictable transaction costs, and difficulty applying privacy and compliance rules inside blockchain applications.

Midnight said the launch follows years of research, engineering, and ecosystem development. The network stated that developers and institutions will now be able to begin using its infrastructure as more native tools and services come online. The project framed this stage as both the completion of the initial build phase and the start of broader network expansion.

The Midnight launch comes shortly after the Cardano Foundation announced support for three live governance actions. In a public statement, the foundation said it voted yes on the Cardano DeFi Liquidity Budget Withdrawal 1, the Cardano Budget Process Framework facilitated by Intersect, and the Cardano x Draper Dragon Orion Fund.

Midnight Launch Brings Privacy Features to Mainnet Activity

The network’s design centers on privacy-enhancing infrastructure for regulated and commercial use. Midnight said that applications on the chain can combine public and private data through a hybrid ledger architecture, allowing sensitive information to remain protected while still enabling on-chain cryptographic verification.

The project also said it uses client-side proof generation, meaning sensitive information stays on the user’s own device. In this setup, zero-knowledge proofs are created locally and then submitted to the network for validation. Midnight said this structure can support identity checks, compliance conditions, and financial verification without exposing the underlying data to the network.

Another feature introduced at launch is the ability to use shielded and unshielded assets. Shielded assets are designed to keep balances, counterparties, and transaction flows off the public ledger, while unshielded assets support more open interaction and exchange. Midnight said this allows developers to choose how privacy is applied based on each application’s needs.

Charles Hoskinson, founder of Input Output, described the broader development path by saying,

Dual-Component Tokenomics and a Phased Rollout Shape the Next Stage

Midnight also launched with a dual-component economic model built around NIGHT and DUST. The network said NIGHT functions as the unshielded governance and utility token, while DUST serves as the renewable resource that powers transactions. Instead of a standard gas model where a token is consumed for each action, DUST is generated from NIGHT holdings and recharges over time.

The project said this structure is intended to make transaction costs more predictable for applications and users. Developers can hold NIGHT to generate DUST for their services, allowing end users to interact with applications without directly holding volatile crypto assets. Midnight said this model is designed to make blockchain infrastructure easier to use for mainstream and regulated environments.

The launch is also being handled through a phased rollout. Midnight said the initial stage will operate with federated node partners under clear coordination rules, with a longer-term plan to move toward a fully decentralized network. The first launch partners named by the project include Google Cloud, MoneyGram, Worldpay, Bullish, eToro, Pairpoint by Vodafone, Blockdaemon, AlphaTON Capital, and Shielded Technologies.

Midnight Foundation President Fahmi Syed said the rollout is being staged to support stability and security while early applications move into production. The project stated that developers should continue testing in the Preprod environment before moving onto the live network.

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