Midnight is a privacy-focused blockchain developed by Input Output (IOG), the company behind Cardano, and NIGHT is its native token. It was designed as Cardano's first partner chain and describes itself as a data protection network.
The NIGHT token was first issued as a native asset on Cardano, and the Midnight mainnet went live with its genesis block in late March 2026. The project aims to combine public verifiability with confidential data handling.
Midnight's core technology is zero-knowledge proofs, which let a party prove a statement is true without revealing the underlying data. This allows transactions and contracts to be verified publicly while sensitive information stays protected.
With selective disclosure, users can reveal only the specific information needed to a regulator or counterparty. Developers can build privacy-enabled apps using Compact, a smart contract language with TypeScript-like syntax.
Data provided by CoinGecko
NIGHT has a total supply of 24 billion tokens, and Midnight uses a dual-resource model built on NIGHT and DUST. NIGHT is the public, transferable token used for governance and network security.
Holding NIGHT automatically generates DUST, a shielded, non-transferable resource used to pay transaction fees. DUST regenerates like a rechargeable battery and decays when unused, and initial NIGHT distribution included the Glacier Drop aimed at holders of several major chains.
Midnight's notable features include a design that balances privacy with regulatory compliance, close ties to the Cardano ecosystem, and a token model that separates fees from the main asset. These traits may suit applications that handle sensitive business or personal data.
However, the mainnet is relatively new, so real-world adoption and ecosystem depth are still being proven. Readers should also consider evolving regulation of privacy technologies, technical complexity, and the price volatility common to crypto assets.
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