Dusk Network has reached a stable operational phase following mainnet activation on January 7, 2026, after more than six years of focused development on privacy and regulatory alignment. The network is designed as a Layer-1 blockchain for institutional finance, enabling confidential smart contracts and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) with auditability as a core protocol feature.
The DuskEVM mainnet launch in the second week of January introduces full EVM compatibility, allowing developers to deploy standard Solidity smart contracts that execute on DuskEVM and settle privately on the DuskDS base layer. DuskDS manages consensus, data availability, and settlement using zero-knowledge mechanisms, ensuring sensitive information stays confidential while maintaining verifiable network integrity. This modular separation of execution from settlement reduces migration effort for Ethereum-based projects and supports scalable applications that inherit privacy natively.
Hedger Alpha, live on the network, provides programmable privacy for DuskEVM transactions. It combines homomorphic encryption (computations on encrypted data) with zero-knowledge proofs (verification without disclosure), enabling institutions to protect transaction details while allowing regulatory audits—essential for MiCA compliance in the EU.
Chainlink integrations add practical utility: CCIP supports secure cross-chain transfers of tokenized assets, and Data Streams deliver reliable oracles for pricing and compliance data, enhancing composability without compromising privacy.
The NPEX partnership continues to progress: NPEX (regulated Dutch exchange with MTF/Broker/ECSP licenses) works with Dusk on DuskTrade (2026 launch, waitlist open in January), targeting €300M+ in tokenized securities (equities/bonds) on-chain for compliant issuance, trading, and settlement.
These developments show deliberate ecosystem maturation toward regulated on-chain finance.
What do you see as the biggest practical benefit of EVM compatibility with native privacy for institutional developers?
