Dusk Network ($DUSK) is a privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain specifically designed for regulated financial markets and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). Unlike general public chains that add privacy later, Dusk natively integrates zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-Proofs) at the protocol level, achieving a core mechanism of 'default privacy + selective disclosure': transactions and smart contract content are completely hidden from the public but can be instantly disclosed to authorized entities under regulatory requirements, perfectly aligning with the EU's MiCA, MiFID II, and DLT pilot regime.

The mainnet officially launched on January 7, 2025 (after six years of refinement), and has now been operating stably for a year as we enter 2026, providing 2-second block times, instant finality, and protocol-level compliance logic. The core technology DuskEVM is compatible with the EVM environment, allowing developers to seamlessly migrate their Ethereum toolset while naturally enjoying privacy protection. Currently, DuskTrade (in deep collaboration with the Dutch licensed exchange NPEX) is accelerating, with over €300 million in small and medium-sized enterprise securities and funds awaiting on-chain trading, becoming a benchmark case for the real-world implementation of European RWA. The integration of Chainlink CCIP and Data Streams has been completed, further ensuring cross-chain asset transfers and real-time compliance data feeds; Dusk Pay (MiCA-compliant stablecoin B2B payment network) and the Superbridge cross-chain bridge are also being launched in Q1-Q2, gradually forming an ecological closed loop.

$DUSK serves as a multifunctional token on the network, undertaking multiple roles such as gas fees, governance voting, Hyperstaking (approximately 12% annual yield), and compliance tool payments. The institutional-level Dusk Vault provides secure custody, while Hyperstaking supports programmable logic, attracting long-term holders. In January 2026, catalyzed by NPEX+Chainlink, $DUSK surged over 500%, breaking the $0.3 high; although it later corrected to oscillate between $0.11 and $0.23, on-chain activity, whale differentiation, and activities like HTX Earn show that institutional confidence continues to accumulate, with 24-hour trading volume occasionally exceeding $20 million.

In the year 2026, when the RWA narrative fully exploded and the demand for privacy reignited due to tightening global regulations, Dusk has transformed from a 'privacy experiment project' into a compliant infrastructure connecting TradFi and DeFi. After six years of quietly focusing on infrastructure, its stable mainnet, real asset landing, and a positioning that prioritizes European regulation provide it with an unreplicable moat. Compared to pure privacy coins (like Monero) or general-purpose Layer 1s, Dusk's combination of 'regulated privacy + institutional-level RWA' has more practical value. If the RWA market continues to expand exponentially in 2026 and NPEX platform trading volume exceeds expectations, DUSK is expected to shift from quiet accumulation to a new round of explosion, becoming one of the most hardcore dark horses in this segmented track #Dusk $DUSK