Shielded develops the core technology for the Midnight network, a fourth‑generation blockchain that embeds zero‑knowledge proof cryptography and a dual‑state ledger to enable programmable privacy at scale. It provides a Compact smart‑contract language, dual‑token economy, and a full suite of infrastructure tools for developers and enterprises building privacy‑preserving, compliant decentralized applications.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Current blockchain ecosystems struggle to provide simultaneous programmability, strong privacy, and regulatory compliance, forcing developers to choose between transparent smart contracts or privacy-focused but limited platforms. This limits the adoption of privacy-preserving applications in real-world commerce and identity use cases.
Solution
Shielded builds the core technology for the Midnight network, a fourth‑generation blockchain that integrates zero‑knowledge proof cryptography, a dual‑state ledger, and novel tokenomics to deliver programmable privacy at scale. By developing the Compact smart‑contract language and the underlying proof systems, Shielded enables developers to write contracts that keep sensitive data private while remaining fully executable on‑chain. The network’s dual‑token model separates governance (NIGHT) from operational fuel (DUST), allowing applications to be self‑funding without consuming governance assets. Shielded also provides a full suite of blockchain infrastructure tools, multi‑chain expertise, and open‑source contributions through the Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust, ensuring interoperability, compliance, and real‑world deployment readiness.
Target Audience
Primary customers are blockchain developers, decentralized application teams, and enterprises seeking privacy‑preserving, compliant smart‑contract solutions, as well as infrastructure providers integrating privacy layers into existing multi‑chain ecosystems.
Features
- Zero‑knowledge proof (ZK) cryptography integrated into the core protocol for mathematically provable privacy
- Dual‑state ledger architecture that separates private and public state while maintaining consensus
- Compact domain‑specific language that compiles to verifier and prover code, enabling privacy‑first smart contracts
- Dual‑token economy (NIGHT for governance, DUST for transaction fuel) that supports self‑funding DApps without eroding governance rights
- Multi‑chain, technology‑agnostic development framework for deploying privacy solutions across major blockchains
- Open‑source stewardship as a premier member of the Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust, with transparent governance and community contributions