TL;DR
- Charles Hoskinson presented in Paris his vision of the “fourth generation” of blockchain, focused on privacy and interoperability, emphasizing decentralized solutions that integrate regulatory compliance at their core.
- He announced the massive “Glacier Drop” airdrop from Midnight, which will distribute NIGHT and DUST tokens to 37 million users across eight major networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP.
- Midnight introduces the concept of “chain abstraction,” allowing the use of tokens from other blockchains without conversion, marking a major step toward real interoperability.
During Paris Blockchain Week 2025, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson unveiled an ambitious roadmap for what he calls the fourth generation of blockchain. His vision calls for an infrastructure that merges privacy, legal compliance, and interoperability, essentials, he argued, for the decentralized ecosystem to grow without depending on large tech corporations.
Midnight, Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain, was the central highlight of his presentation. This network will allow users to perform private transactions across multiple blockchains without converting their tokens. This innovation, known as “chain abstraction,” provides an inclusive and agile environment, ideal for DeFi and enterprise-grade applications that demand regulatory compliance.
Midnight also aims to resolve one of the most complex blockchain dilemmas: how to offer privacy while retaining traceability for tax regulations or audits. Hoskinson explained that the system will allow data to be viewed only by authorized parties, such as tax authorities or companies. Furthermore, tools are being developed for developers to build decentralized applications with native data protection, eliminating the need for external solutions.
To this, a strong commitment to scalability is added. Midnight plans to integrate parallel execution technologies and distributed storage to support complex applications without compromising speed or efficiency. Cardano aims to position itself as the reliable bridge between the traditional and decentralized worlds, prioritizing ethical principles, privacy by design, and true interoperability. Sovereign identity mechanisms are also being evaluated for integration into the platform’s core.
A Historic Airdrop Across Eight Blockchain Networks
Hoskinson also surprised the audience by announcing the “Glacier Drop”, an airdrop that will benefit more than 37 million users spread across eight major blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, XRP, Binance Smart Chain, Avalanche, and Polygon. The NIGHT tokens will be used for governance, while DUST will serve as the medium for private transactions on Midnight.
The technical proposal behind Midnight is based on Minotaur, a hybrid consensus engine that combines proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, and other mechanisms. It allows for secure validation from different networks without requiring validators to leave their native chains. Hoskinson closed his keynote by stressing that cross-chain collaboration is not just desirable but inevitable if the decentralized ecosystem is to compete with centralized solutions at scale.
