Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has introduced a new blockchain called Midnight, whose primary goal is to ensure privacy and implement zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proof) technology. The mainnet launch is scheduled for the last week of March 2026.
This is reported by Finway
Midnight: Collaboration with Google and Telegram
Among the partners of the Midnight project are tech giants Google and Telegram, who will contribute to the success of the new network. Midnight will serve as a partner network for Cardano and will focus on combining data protection with compliance with regulatory requirements in the field of decentralized applications. Before the launch, the team is actively testing the system with the involvement of artificial intelligence agents, which allows for modeling real network loads.
“We have great partners who will help us launch it. Google is one of them. Telegram is another. We are very excited, and there is more to come,” he stated.
Technological Features and Network Testing
Midnight utilizes ZK-proofs, enabling the mechanism of selective information disclosure. By default, all transactions remain confidential, but if necessary, certain data can be shared with authorized parties. The project is positioned as infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps) that combines privacy and regulatory compliance.
The privacy approach in Midnight is based on a “rational privacy” model, where user data is closed by default but can be disclosed in defined scenarios. The balance between transparency and information protection is ensured through various access modes: public, auditing, and the so-called divine mode, each with its own level of rights.
To prepare for the mainnet launch, the Midnight City Simulation platform has been introduced, allowing for testing the network’s capabilities. Starting February 26, public access to the simulator will be open to all interested parties. In this environment, artificial intelligence agents generate a continuous stream of transactions, helping to verify the network’s ability to process cryptographic proofs under high loads, close to real-world conditions.
Input Output Global noted that these tests confirm the capability for scalable proof processing in the network, which is an important step for launching Midnight on the mainnet and its further use in the crypto industry.
As a reminder, Charles Hoskinson previously reported personal financial losses exceeding $3 billion due to the devaluation of crypto assets.