On the surface, this update might sound technical. Underneath, it’s one of the most important moves Dusk Foundation has made so far
Dusk is evolving from a single, custom Layer 1 into a three layer modular system. The goal isn’t complexity it’s speed, compatibility and real adoption, without giving up the privacy and compliance that make Dusk different
The reason for the change is simple as institutions and developers don’t want bespoke systems anymore. They want blockchain infrastructure that works now, plugs into existing tools and still meets regulatory standards. This new architecture is how Dusk gets there
At the base is DuskDS, the data, consensus and settlement layer. This is where staking, finality and security live
It also runs a native, validator controlled bridge between layers, meaning assets move without wrapped tokens or custodians
One important detail here is the pre verification system state transitions are checked before settlement, avoiding long dispute windows like the 7 day delays seen on some rollups. For institutions, that kind of certainty matters
Above that sits DuskEVM, which is where things become immediately familiar. This layer runs standard Solidity smart contracts using normal Ethereum tools like MetaMask and Hardhat
That means exchanges, wallets, custodians, and developers can integrate in weeks instead of months. Existing EVM apps can migrate with minimal changes and instantly gain access to Dusk’s compliance and privacy features
Over time, DuskEVM will also support advanced features like confidential transactions and hidden order books, which are especially useful for regulated financial instruments
The third layer, DuskVM, is where full privacy lives. This layer is designed for applications that need deep confidentiality, using Dusk’s Phoenix transaction model and custom virtual machine
It is being separated out so privacy apps can scale independently without bloating the base network
heavy privacy where needed, efficiency everywhere else
All three layers use one token
DUSK. No fragmentation, no wrapped assets
DUSK handles staking and governance on DuskDS, gas fees on DuskEVM and execution costs on DuskVM
For users and exchanges, DuskEVM becomes the main entry point, while the native bridge quietly moves value across layers in the background
What really makes this powerful is regulation. Because NPEX’s licences apply across the full stack, institutions can issue, trade and settle real world assets under a single regulatory umbrella
No jumping between legal frameworks. No duplicated compliance work. One time KYC, composable apps and licensed assets that can be reused across the ecosystem @Dusk
For institutions, this changes the economics completely. Custom blockchain integrations used to take 6 – 12 months and cost massively more than standard EVM deployments. With Dusk’s modular approach, those timelines shrink to weeks. That’s the difference between “interesting idea” and “let’s actually do this
Dusk is removing friction. It’s keeping privacy where it matters, compliance where it’s required and familiarity where adoption depends on it #dusk $DUSK
This evolution doesn’t make Dusk louder.
It makes it usable
And for regulated finance, usability is what decides winners
