Midnight Network is fully sprinting towards the mainnet! According to the official blog (Getting mainnet ready: A developer’s guide) (https://midnight.network/blog/getting-mainnet-ready-a-developer-s-guide), the mainnet is scheduled to officially launch at the end of March 2026, marking a significant leap from the testing phase to the production environment. At that time, developers will be able to deploy truly privacy-enhancing applications, and the network will initiate the transition to a federated model, governed collaboratively by independent federated node operators, ensuring decentralization and clear coordination rules. Developers should now focus on four key preparation areas: Learning and skill enhancement: Master zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) and the Compact toolchain through the Midnight Developer Academy. This academy is designed for developers from different backgrounds—Web2 developers can directly use TypeScript skills to build privacy contracts without any cryptography background; Web3 developers can develop hybrid dApps that combine privacy logic with transparent ledgers to address compliance pain points; ZK enthusiasts can practice proof technology in real-world environments. Enroll now: https://academy.midnight.network/. Meanwhile, the official documentation is being extensively optimized to become reliable resources for Preprod and the mainnet, and feedback is welcome on the forum https://forum.midnight.network/.
Deploy to the Preprod environment: Preprod, as the production image, is the final testing ground. The core package and examples (such as Counter, Bulletin Board) have been fully updated to align with Preprod. Use create-mn-app to quickly set up the project, and update midnight-js, wallet-sdk, etc., to the latest version. Migration steps include: upgrading the toolkit to a compatible version, configuring the Preprod endpoints (Indexer, RPC, network ID set to preprod), and handling shielded/unshielded/DUST address prefixes. The AI-assisted coding tool MCP has been integrated, allowing the AI assistant to validate Compact code in real-time and reduce hallucinations.
Increase project visibility: Add 'midnightntwrk' and 'compact' tags to the GitHub repository to help institutions like Electric Capital track open-source activities and improve the ranking of the Midnight ecosystem in developer reports. Participate in Zealy tasks to earn rewards: https://zealy.io/...
Generate DUST in Preprod: Each transaction requires DUST resources to pay for ZK verification computation. Unlike the early testnet, Preprod uses test NIGHT (tNIGHT) to generate DUST. Trigger the process by specifying the DUST address through the Midnight Lace wallet; see the guide for details: https://docs.midnight.network/guides/lace-wallet.
Additionally, the second phase of the Aliit Fellowship application is open, and the next phase of the Build Club accelerator will lead directly to mainnet deployment, providing core engineering guidance, exposure, and partnership opportunities for startups and independent developers. The mainnet is approaching, @MidnightNetwork
We urge developers to share project details, as the team is tracking the launch plan to ensure the network is ready. $NIGHT As a native governance and utility token, it will drive privacy transactions, governance, and ecosystem growth. Holding $NIGHT not only allows participation in decision-making but also helps build a future of 'rational privacy'—protecting data while maintaining verifiability. Seize the Preprod window and accelerate building! The mainnet countdown has begun, and the privacy revolution is about to arrive. #night