what's Midnight Foundation?

The Midnight Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the growth and adoption of the Midnight network, a fourth-generation blockchain designed for secure, compliant, and privacy-preserving decentralized applications. Built on zero-knowledge proofs, Midnight enables developers to create DApps that protect sensitive commercial and personal data without compromising functionality or regulatory adherence. The foundation supports a global community of engineers, business leaders, and Web3 experts, emphasizing rational privacy as a core principle to bridge blockchain innovation with real-world utility. Midnight's architecture features a dual-token model: NIGHT serves as the utility token for network incentives, security, and growth, while DUST acts as a shielded resource for transaction fees, ensuring privacy through cooperative tokenomics. As a sidechain compatible with ecosystems like Cardano, it leverages advanced cryptography to allow selective disclosure of data, reducing compliance burdens for enterprises in sectors like finance, healthcare, and supply chain. The foundation drives initiatives such as developer tools, accelerators, and fair token distributions via mechanisms like the Glacier Drop airdrop. Through partnerships with entities like Google Cloud and events like TOKEN2049, the Midnight Foundation advances zero-knowledge technology as essential infrastructure for interoperable, privacy-first digital systems. Its focus on open-source contributions and community governance positions Midnight as a foundational layer for the next era of decentralized applications that prioritize user sovereignty and data protection.

Dr. Beckmann speaks at InnovateDenver during ETHDenver on Feb 18.