# Midnight Network

> Bringing rational privacy to blockchain

Midnight Network is a privacy-focused blockchain that uses zero-knowledge proofs to enable data protection while maintaining regulatory compliance and transparency.

Midnight Network helps developers build decentralized applications that protect sensitive data through zero-knowledge proofs and programmable privacy features. With it, you can create smart contracts using TypeScript-based Compact language, maintain compliance with regulations through selective disclosure, and deploy applications on a partner chain to Cardano. Midnight addresses privacy challenges in blockchain while ensuring transparent operations where needed.

- Type: Network
- Sector: Blockchain Platforms
- Status: Announced
- Founded: 2022-01-01
- Profile: https://thegrid.id/profiles/midnight

## Products

- [Midnight Layer 1](https://thegrid.id/profiles/midnight): Midnight Blockchain operates as a partner chain to Cardano, using zero-knowledge proofs to enable privacy-preserving smart contracts while maintaining regulatory compliance through selective disclosure mechanisms. (L1, Open Beta, Main Product)

## Assets

- [NIGHT (NIGHT)](https://thegrid.id/profiles/midnight): NIGHT is the utility token of the Midnight network. It is used for governance participation, securing the network through block rewards, and generating DUST—a shielded, non-transferable resource used to pay for transaction fees. Unlike most blockchains where transaction fees require utility token expenditure, Midnight doesn't consume NIGHT to fund transactions; instead, NIGHT generates DUST indefinitely like a renewable resource, meaning holders can use the network without depleting their token holdings. (Utility)
- [DUST (DUST)](https://thegrid.id/profiles/midnight): DUST is a shielded resource token on the Midnight Network, automatically generated by holding NIGHT tokens and consumed to pay for transaction fees and smart contract execution. It is used to power privacy-preserving operations on the network without requiring users to spend their underlying NIGHT holdings. The token is non-transferable between addresses and decays if unused, functioning like a renewable battery that recharges over time based on NIGHT holdings. (Utility)

## Links

- [Main](https://midnight.network)
- [Blog](https://midnight.network/blog)
- [Documentation](https://docs.midnight.network)
- [Whitepaper](https://midnight.network/whitepaper)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@midnight.network)
- [Twitter / X](https://x.com/MidnightNtwrk)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/midnight-ntwrk)
- [Telegram](https://t.me/Midnight_Network_Official)
- [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork)

## Relationships

- [IOHK](https://thegrid.id/profiles/iohk): Parent organization

## Legal

This data is provided under two licensing models.

Model 1 - open data. The open data core is licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL) — a copyleft/share-alike license allowing free use, modification, and sharing for any purpose. Attribution is required: include "Powered by The Grid" linking to https://thegrid.id wherever the data is used. Derivative databases must be shared under ODbL terms. Trademarks, logos, and brand names (marked "Special TPIP") are not covered by the ODbL. For ML/AI use: training datasets that substantially extract ODbL data are Derivative Databases and must be shared under ODbL if publicly used; models must be attributed in documentation.

Model 2 - commercial licenses. The Grid Data Service (TGDS) is also available as a commercial license. See [Web Services Terms](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/web-services-terms) for commercial use that is not covered by the open data service.

The following applies to both licensing models.
- All data is provided AS IS with no guarantees of accuracy.
- The Grid does not provide investment, legal, or tax advice, and
- a project's presence in The Grid's data does not imply endorsement.


- [Data Licensing & Disclaimers](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/data-licensing-and-disclaimers): Licensing models and disclaimers
- [Open Data (ODbL)](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/open-data): Open Database License terms and scope for The Grid's open data service.
- [Attribution Guidelines](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/open-data-attribution-guidelines): How to attribute The Grid's data when using the open data service.
- [Web Services Terms](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/web-services-terms): commercial Terms for using data services.
- [All Legal Documents](https://about.thegrid.id/legal): Full index of terms, policies, and disclosures

## Optional

- [TGS Field Descriptions](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/tgs-field-descriptions.md): Schema field definitions for The Grid's data model
- [TGS JSON Structure](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/tgs-json-structure.md): Data model structure and relationships
- [Product Type Definitions](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/product-type-definitions.md): Definitions for each product type
- [Product Type Classification](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/product-type-classification.md): Guide for classifying products into types
- [Grid MCP Guide](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/grid-search/skills/grid-query/references/grid-mcp-guide.md): How to query The Grid programmatically via MCP