Cardano founder launches privacy chain Midnight, focusing on ZK and compliance compatibility

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson announced the launch of the privacy-oriented sidechain Midnight, which has generated its genesis block, marking the official entry of the project into the operational phase.

Midnight is developed by Input Output Global and is positioned as a "fourth-generation blockchain," aimed at driving real-world assets on-chain through end-to-end privacy capabilities. The network employs zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technology to achieve selective disclosure of data, meeting compliance requirements while protecting user privacy. Architecturally, Midnight has its own ledger, consensus mechanism, and smart contract environment, and connects with the Cardano ecosystem through interoperable design. Its hybrid ledger supports the simultaneous processing of public and private data within the same transaction and provides the ability to conceal balance and counterparty information. Additionally, Midnight introduces a programming language called Compact, lowering the barrier for developers to build privacy applications, and adopts a dual-token model to optimize network usage costs and incentive mechanisms.