January 2026 became a turning point for Dusk Network: the DuskEVM mainnet has officially launched, opening the era of EVM-compatible smart contracts with native privacy on regulated L1. Developers can now deploy standard Solidity contracts without rewriting code, but with settlement on Dusk’s Layer 1, where each transaction is protected by zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption. This addresses the main pain point of institutional DeFi: how to maintain confidentiality (to protect trade secrets, client data) while simultaneously ensuring full auditability for regulators under MiCA and other standards.
Hedger Alpha is already operational — it is a layer that adds confidential transactions to the EVM, allowing details (amounts, addresses) to be hidden from public view while leaving verifiable proofs for compliance. In combination with DuskDS (modular L1 base), it creates a full infrastructure for regulated finance: from tokenized securities to compliant yield farming.
The partnership with NPEX (regulated Dutch exchange with MTF/ECSP licenses) takes this to a new level: DuskTrade in 2026 will bring €300M+ in tokenized real-world assets on-chain. The waitlist is already open — this is not hype, but a real on-chain market for regulated securities. $DUSK as a utility token provides staking, gas, and governance, accumulating value from institutional adoption. Dusk does not just add privacy — it builds a blockchain where privacy and compliance coexist without compromise. In an era when regulators demand transparency, and businesses demand secrecy, Dusk becomes the golden mean. @dusk_@Dusk $DUSK #dusk