Delivery-versus-Payment on the Dusk Network ensures that assets and payments move at the exact same moment—an all-or-nothing exchange. This synchronized settlement acts like a secure handshake, removing uncertainty and aligning blockchain execution with the standards long used in traditional financial markets.
Dusk separates execution from settlement. The network itself is responsible for final, immutable settlement and data availability, while DuskEVM and Dusk VM handle the programmable logic of the exchange. Assets and payments only transfer once every condition is met; if anything fails, the transaction halts entirely, eliminating partial or broken trades.
This model is reinforced by Dusk’s strong finality. Once a DvP transaction is confirmed, it cannot be reversed. For institutional use cases such as securities trading, this certainty is critical, allowing clearing and settlement processes to run automatically without settlement risk.
Privacy is built in by design. DvP transactions can use Phoenix transactions for confidential trades, hiding counterparties, amounts, and pricing while still proving validity, or Moonlight transactions when transparency and regulatory disclosure are required. This dual model supports both private market activity and public compliance obligations.
Regulatory enforcement happens at the protocol level. Through Citadel, participants must prove eligibility—such as KYC and AML compliance—during the transaction itself. Non-compliant trades are blocked before settlement, reducing reliance on external controls and post-trade checks.
Smart contracts define the DvP conditions clearly and verifiably. These rules can be implemented on DuskEVM for standard workflows or on Dusk VM for more specialized logic. In all cases, settlement follows transparent, deterministic rules that all parties can audit.
DvP on Dusk supports both tokenized and real-world assets, enabling regulated instruments like stocks, bonds, and other securities to be exchanged for DUSK or approved settlement assets. This brings blockchain efficiency to traditional finance without sacrificing compliance.
The network’s modular architecture is coordinated through a native bridge, ensuring atomic DvP execution across layers. For oversight and reporting, the Rusk Universal Event System records each DvP transaction, producing audit-friendly events that regulators and monitoring tools can consume without exposing sensitive data.
By executing delivery and payment simultaneously, Dusk’s DvP significantly reduces counterparty and settlement risk. This mirrors best practices in securities markets and positions Dusk as a strong foundation for exchanges, trading venues, and institutional finance.
In short, Delivery-versus-Payment on Dusk provides a native, compliant framework for secure and private atomic settlement. By combining finality, identity enforcement, smart contracts, and flexible privacy, Dusk enables real-world financial markets to operate directly onchain.
