I’m looking at Dusk because it tries to solve a real conflict in on chain finance:
institutions need privacy for normal business activity, but regulators need proof when rules must be checked. Dusk is a Layer 1 designed around that balance. It has two transaction paths, a transparent model for flows that must be visible and a shielded model that uses zero knowledge proofs so transfers can be validated without exposing sensitive details like amounts and linkable history. The system also supports controlled disclosure, meaning a user can reveal what is necessary for auditing without making everything public by default. Under the hood, the network focuses on quick settlement and clear finality so transactions can be treated as closed, which matters in regulated environments where uncertainty creates operational risk. They’re not trying to make finance mysterious, they’re trying to make it usable on chain without forcing permanent exposure. If regulated assets and compliant decentralized markets expand, understanding designs like this helps you see what the infrastructure layer is aiming to become.