I’m describing Dusk as a Layer 1 that tries to fit the real shape of regulated finance. Instead of assuming everything should be public forever, it builds privacy and auditability into the core design. The network separates a settlement layer from execution layers, so finality and security can stay consistent while applications evolve, without rebuilding infrastructure from scratch. Developers can deploy smart contracts in an EVM environment, and users interact with apps using the chain’s native token for fees and settlement.
A key design choice is the dual transfer model. One model is public and account based, which is useful when transparency is required. The other model is shielded and note based, where zero-knowledge proofs let the network verify correctness without revealing amounts and linkable details to everyone. Moving between the two styles is part of the intended workflow, so a person or institution can choose visibility based on context instead of being forced into one extreme.
They’re also building a compliance and identity approach that focuses on selective disclosure, meaning you can prove a requirement without handing over your full identity trail. That matters for onboarding, restricted assets, and audits where the rule is show what’s needed, not everything you have.
In practice, Dusk can be used for tokenized assets, compliant DeFi, and private settlement flows where front running, balance exposure, or strategy leakage would be costly. The long term goal looks like a shared financial foundation where privacy is normal, audits are possible when required, and regulated actors can participate without turning the chain into a surveillance system.