Midnight Launches Mainnet With Programmable Privacy and Hybrid Ledger Design

Charles Hoskinson’s privacy-focused blockchain Midnight has generated its genesis block and launched a one-year NIGHT airdrop for 37 million eligible wallets, expanding details around its token model and network rollout.

2d ago

Fact Check

The statement is fully corroborated by primary and secondary news sources. Midnight, a Cardano-backed privacy blockchain, launched its mainnet (Kūkolu) on March 30, 2026, as reported by PANews and CoinDesk. The technical details regarding programmable privacy (client-side ZK-proofs) and the hybrid ledger (shielded/unshielded assets) match official project descriptions. The involvement of Google Cloud and MoneyGram as federated node operators was confirmed in multiple reports leading up to the launch (Yahoo Finance, Blockster).

Summary

Midnight, the privacy-focused Layer-1 blockchain led by IOG, has generated its genesis block and launched its network, with new details confirming a zero-knowledge-based architecture and a dual-token model using NIGHT and renewable gas token DUST. The update also adds that Midnight opened a one-year NIGHT airdrop to 37 million eligible wallets last December. Previously reported information said the project launched its mainnet on March 30, according to the Midnight Foundation, and that Charles Hoskinson personally funded the project with ¥32 billion.

Terms & Concepts

genesis block: The first block of a blockchain network, marking the beginning of its on-chain history and live operation.
Layer-1: A base blockchain that runs its own network, consensus, and transaction processing rather than relying on another chain.
zero-knowledge: A cryptographic approach that allows information to be verified without revealing the underlying data.