The Privacy-First Layer 1 Built for Regulated Finance"Dusk Network stands out in the crowded Layer-1 landscape as a blockchain purpose-built for regulated financial markets and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Unlike general-purpose chains that bolt on privacy as an afterthought, Dusk embeds zero-knowledge proofs, confidential smart contracts, and compliance logic directly into its protocol.Launched on mainnet in January 2025 after years of development, Dusk enables private yet auditable transactions, instant finality, and MiCA/MiFID II-aligned features—making it especially attractive for institutional players in Europe. The network supports the Confidential Security Contract (XSC) standard for issuing tokenized securities, bonds, funds, and other RWAs with built-in regulatory controls.Key features in 2026:DuskEVM — Ethereum-compatible execution environment for privacy-preserving dApps (rolled out and maturing in early 2026).
Hyperstaking and programmable staking logic.
Hedger module for confidential on-chain hedging and derivatives.
Native support for self-custodial, private access to institutional-grade assets.
The DUSK token powers the ecosystem: it covers gas fees, staking for consensus and security, governance, and acts as collateral in various financial primitives. As of February 1, 2026, DUSK trades around $0.10–$0.11, with a market cap hovering near $52–55 million and solid 24-hour volume often exceeding $20 million.Dusk's mission—"unlocking economic inclusion by bringing institution-level assets to anyone's wallet"—positions it uniquely at the intersection of privacy, compliance, and TradFi-DeFi convergence. While still far from its 2021 all-time high above $1, recent momentum (driven by partnerships and upgrades) suggests growing relevance in a post-MiCA regulatory era.