Midnight

Midnight is a privacy-focused blockchain and Cardano's first Partner Chain. It lets developers build applications that protect user data while still meeting regulatory requirements. Unlike traditional privacy coins, Midnight uses "selective disclosure" - users can prove things about themselves (like being over 18 or passing KYC) without revealing the underlying personal information¹.

The network uses two tokens: NIGHT for governance and security, and DUST for paying transaction fees. DUST is unique because it can't be transferred between users, which solves many compliance concerns that affect other privacy blockchains². Developers can build on Midnight using Compact, a TypeScript-based language that makes privacy features accessible without needing deep cryptography expertise.

Midnight is designed to work as a privacy layer for any blockchain. Applications on Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana and other chains can call Midnight when they need private operations, without migrating their entire codebase. The Glacier Drop distributed NIGHT tokens to participants across eight blockchain communities, establishing a broad base of stakeholders from the start³.