Family, to be honest, what has impressed me the most about using @MidnightNetwork for so long is not how powerful its zero-knowledge proofs are, nor how effective its dual-structure architecture is, but that it truly gives the power of discourse to each and every one of us. Unlike some projects, where the core rules are determined solely by the team, holding $NIGHT makes us not just simple investors, but more like a part of this privacy community. Those seemingly complex cryptographic rules, such as how to use zero-knowledge proofs to protect our data, how to control the leakage of sensitive information, and even details related to our transaction costs, we can all have a say in every aspect, and that feeling is really amazing.
I know many people might feel intimidated, thinking they are just ordinary holders who don’t understand the complicated cryptography, and wonder how they qualify to participate in rule-making. In fact, there’s really no need to be afraid. When I started, I didn’t understand anything either. Gradually I discovered that what Midnight is doing with cryptographic democratization is to turn complex technical decisions into small matters that ordinary people can understand and operate. You don’t need to be a cryptographic expert or know too much specialized knowledge; as long as you have $NIGHT in your hands, know how to use a wallet, and follow my steps, you can exercise your rights. No longer will you just watch others set the rules while you passively accept them; that feeling of powerlessness, who understands it?
Let me clarify the core logic for everyone; it's actually very simple. All the rules related to cryptography in #night are not decided by the team arbitrarily. They are determined together by all of us $NIGHT holders through on-chain voting. The amount of $NIGHT you hold corresponds to your voting power; one $NIGHT equals one vote. There’s no need for ID verification or submitting any materials; as long as you keep your coins safe, you qualify to vote. This is truly the essence of decision-making by everyone together.
Next is the most crucial part, as a $NIGHT holder, how to participate in the rule-making. There are actually two core things: first, get the prerequisites for participation sorted out, and then follow the voting process. It’s very simple, I will guide you step by step; even beginners can easily grasp it. I went through this myself, and it’s not complicated at all.
There are three prerequisites for participation; remember them, as missing any one will not work. First, you must have $NIGHT, whether from the previous Glacier Drop airdrop, the Scavenger Mine activity, or purchased from major exchanges like Binance or OKX; as long as it has arrived, you can participate. Second, the coins must be in your own wallet; coins in exchanges do not count; this point must be remembered. Because coins held by exchanges do not grant you voting rights. I recommend using the Lace wallet, which is officially recommended by both Cardano and Midnight; it is safe, easy to use, and has the highest compatibility. I have always used this. Third, understand the basic governance situation a little; you don’t need to delve too deep, just know that proposals fall into several categories, and voting has three options: in favor, against, or abstain. That’s enough. The more you participate, the more you will naturally understand.
Then comes the most critical step of on-chain voting, which consists of four steps. I will explain each step clearly; just follow along, and you can complete the voting in ten minutes. I have tested it myself, and there are no pitfalls.
Step one, first get the preparatory work done. Download and install the Lace wallet. After registering and logging in, transfer your $NIGHT from the exchange to this wallet. Remember, you must double-check the address; if you make a mistake, you won’t be able to retrieve it. When I first withdrew, I verified the address three times before daring to confirm. After withdrawing, ensure that the $NIGHT in your wallet is neither locked nor staked, so you can vote normally. Also, remember to join Midnight's official community, like Discord or Telegram, where they will announce when proposals go live. Don’t miss important votes; otherwise, it would be a loss.
Step two, enter the governance page and connect your wallet. When the official governance portal goes live, whether on the Midnight official website or in the Lace wallet, there will be an access point. After opening the page, click to connect your wallet, choose Lace, and follow the prompts to authorize the login. This process is very simple, just like connecting your wallet for transactions; there’s no need to be nervous. After a successful authorization, the page will show you how much $NIGHT you have and how many votes you can cast.
Step three, review the proposals and vote carefully. After logging in, the page will display all the proposals that are currently being voted on. We should focus on those related to cryptographic rules, such as changes to zk-SNARK parameters, adjustments to privacy proof formats, and optimizations for compliance disclosure rules. Each proposal will clearly state what needs to be changed, why it should be changed, what impact the changes will have on our privacy and transactions, as well as when the voting will start and when it will end. Everyone should take a minute or two to read the proposal content; you don’t need to understand all the technical terms, just know whether this proposal is good for us. For example, if a proposal can reduce the cost of our private transactions, then we definitely vote in favor; if it weakens our privacy protection, then we vote against it. If you’re really unsure, abstaining from voting is fine; it's better than voting randomly.
Step four, confirm your vote and wait for the results. Choose your position: in favor, against, or abstain, then click to confirm your vote. Your wallet will prompt for a signature; confirm everything is fine and sign. You won’t spend much on fees, and it will be done in a few seconds. After a successful vote, the page will show a prompt; you don’t need to worry about it anymore, just wait for the voting period to end, which usually takes about seven days. The results will be publicly available on-chain, and everyone can see them. If the proposal meets the required number of votes and approval ratio, it will automatically be executed, modifying the corresponding cryptographic rules. If it doesn’t pass, it will remain the same; the entire process is transparent, with no shady operations. This is something I genuinely feel reassured about.
Here I want to share two small details to avoid pitfalls. First, voting rights are tied to the amount of $NIGHT you hold; the more you hold, the greater your voting weight. But even if you only hold one $NIGHT, you can still vote. Don’t think that holding a small amount means you have no say; every vote is important. I initially only held a small amount but still cast my first vote. Second, if you usually don’t have time to follow the proposals, you can delegate your voting rights to a trusted community representative or validator to help you vote. This way, you don’t need to spend time but can still exercise your rights, which is particularly convenient.
Additionally, one point you may not know is that Midnight has only recently launched its federated mainnet, which happened at the end of March 2026. Currently, the federated council is mainly responsible for proposals and voting. However, in the future, it will gradually open up to allow all $NIGHT holders to participate in on-chain voting, slowly transitioning to fully decentralized governance. This means that in the future, all cryptographic rules will be determined by all of us together. This is the true significance of Midnight's cryptographic democratization and the most valuable aspect of $NIGHT beyond appreciation; I truly have high hopes for it.
Finally, I want to say something from the bottom of my heart: holding $NIGHT is not just holding a token, but holding governance rights in the Midnight community. We often hear people talk about decentralization, but many projects only shout slogans; very few truly hand over decision-making power to the community. Midnight is different; it really gives power to each of us holders. Whether you are a newcomer or an old player, regardless of your understanding of cryptography, you can participate and use your vote to determine the future of this privacy circle. This feeling is truly one of belonging.
Now, everyone hurry to check if your $NIGHT is in your wallet. If you haven't installed the Lace wallet yet, please do so quickly, and pay attention to the official governance updates. Once the proposals go live, you can cast your first vote, transforming from a bystander into a creator of Midnight's cryptographic rules. Trust me, the sense of achievement is truly different.
