Event Report: Midnight Meetup Tour in Fukuoka

Internet privacy has long been treated as a casualty of convenience, with individual behavioral data centralized on platforms that do not always empower users to control their own information.

However, the idea of returning data sovereignty to individuals has been a recurring theme in the context of Web3.0, following the advent of blockchain technology.

In this context, the 'Midnight' project, which champions next-generation privacy protection technologies, held a community meetup on January 31, 2026, in Fukuoka.

This event was part of a Japan tour that started in Sapporo on January 25 and will visit five cities, concluding in Tokyo on February 7. Unlike typical product demos or investor pitches, this meetup was designed as a space for people who share the vision of transforming internet privacy to deepen their philosophy through dialogue and interaction.

On the day, Charles Hoskinson, known as the founder of Cardano, also spoke about the new ecosystem being built around Midnight and related projects.

In the latter part of this article, we conduct an exclusive interview with Mr. Hoskinson, delving deeper into the philosophy behind Midnight's privacy design and the issues that underpin it, following the event.

At the beginning of the event, Mr. Hoskinson reminisced about his visit to Fukuoka in 2016 when Cardano was still in its conceptual phase.

Back then, Cardano was a small, rebellious entity challenging the existing financial systems and technologies. Despite talking about creating a special network that would change the world, few truly believed in its potential.

Today, Cardano has grown into a massive blockchain ecosystem with over 1.4 million users worldwide, featuring decentralized governance. Mr. Hoskinson described this journey as a 'magical network', emphasizing the results of long-term efforts.

This Midnight Japan Tour aims to reflect on the history of Cardano while directly delivering his new project, Midnight, which he holds dear, to the Japanese community.

Why Privacy Now?

Mr. Hoskinson posed a fundamental question: why, even after more than 15 years since the inception of blockchain, have major corporations like Sony, Toyota, and Microsoft not fully adopted it?

The reason lies in the excessive focus on the 'Public' aspect of existing blockchains.

While blockchain excels in transparency, verifiability, and immutability, making it superb for recording and transferring assets, it falls short in covering all aspects of business and society.

This is because the real world contains 'Private' areas. Personnel records, medical data, personal financial information, and government secrets are among the many types of information that should not be public.

In our daily lives, we naturally navigate between the public and private worlds. However, previous blockchains lacked mechanisms to handle this 'B-side' of reality. Midnight is designed to fill this gap.

The Three Pillars Supporting Midnight

The core concept of Midnight is explained through a triangle consisting of three elements.

The first is PETs (Privacy-Enhancing Technologies), utilizing mechanisms like zero-knowledge proofs to 'prove correctness without revealing the contents of the information.'

The second is smart compliance, which incorporates mechanisms to automatically meet regulatory requirements like KYC and AML while protecting privacy, enabling the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) such as real estate and securities.

The third is abstraction, aimed at ease of use. Users do not need to worry about complex elements like 24 recovery words or calculating gas fees, as the system is designed for intuitive operation with just fingerprint authentication on a smartphone.

These three pillars combine to realize 'usable privacy' with Midnight.

A New User Experience Based on 'Intent'

Mr. Hoskinson emphasized the importance of 'intent-based' UX as the future evolution of blockchain.

When ordering coffee, people do not specify the origin of the beans or the extraction conditions; simply stating 'I'd like a latte' is sufficient.

The same should apply to cryptocurrencies. If you express the intent to 'buy $100 worth of Bitcoin within an hour', the network automatically processes which chain to use and which route to take.

Midnight aims to act as a 'bridge' connecting this intent across blockchains.

Cardano's Ecosystem Converges

Also introduced at the beginning of the event was a participatory game utilizing Cardano's scaling technology 'Hydra'.

By eliminating complicated wallet operations and adopting a scavenger hunt format to collect 'secret words' within the venue, the event provided an intuitive experience of privacy technology, specifically zero-knowledge proofs, transforming advanced technology into an 'engaging and enjoyable experience' for attendees.

The session began with a powerful message: 'No matter how superior the technology, if it's not user-friendly, it might as well not exist.' This statement embodies the design philosophy of Midnight itself.

Why Has ZK Not Been Widely Adopted Until Now?

Sebastian first posed a question to the audience, 'How many of you have actually worked with Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZK) related projects?' Despite decades of research into this cryptographic technology, the response highlighted the 'usability barrier' that current blockchain technologies face.

Traditional ZK projects required engineers to install numerous tools and spend hours, if not days, setting up the development environment. As a result, users would disengage during the preparation phase before they could appreciate the technology's allure.

Sebastian declared that this situation would end with Midnight.

Sebastian, the CTO of Midnight, stated that the main reason privacy technologies have not been widely adopted is their lack of user-friendliness.

He introduced three cutting-edge technologies as the key to solving this issue: WASM, which allows nodes to be launched instantly on browsers; WebGPU, which maximizes device performance; and Folding, which enables continuous proof.

By integrating these technologies, they have created 'Midnight OS', which offers such a smooth user experience that one could 'fall in love' in minutes, as presented from an engineer's perspective.

Three Core Technologies Supporting Midnight

Midnight aims to be a blockchain that 'anyone can master in minutes.' To achieve this, Sebastian introduced three technological pillars.

WebAssembly (WASM) — Experience Without Installation

Sebastian calls this strategy 'The Great WASMification.' By leveraging WASM, users no longer need to download dedicated software.

Simply opening a browser instantly launches a Midnight node, and the wallet and DApp store operate within a secure sandbox environment. Additionally, technologies like WASI, originally developed to safely run AI, are repurposed to protect assets and confidential information while providing a seamless user experience.

WebGPU — Ultra-Fast Processing in Milliseconds

Traditionally, performing complex cryptographic calculations in a browser was known to slow down performance. Midnight is overturning this norm with WebGPU.

By adopting WebGPU, which was introduced just months ago, and accessing the device's GPU directly, it completes heavy computational tasks like Zero-Knowledge Proofs in milliseconds, thus offering a privacy-protected, high-speed experience.

Folding — Continuous 'Proof' Without Interruption

The third pillar is a concept called 'Folding.' Unlike traditional proof technologies that capture 'moments,' Midnight emphasizes 'continuity.'

For example, instead of proving once that 'you have a passport,' it continuously updates and proves a user's status and activity history until the game is turned off, all while maintaining privacy.

Aiming for a 'Fall-in-Love-in-Minutes' UX

Sebastian repeatedly emphasized that Midnight is not just a high-functionality tool but a kind of 'Operating System' (OS).

Open a browser, use apps, and achieve goals. In all these processes, privacy is protected, and the experience is fast. Sebastian stated that anyone who experiences this for a few minutes will be captivated by the potential of Midnight.

From Technology to Business, Expanding the Ecosystem

After explaining the technical foundation, the session shifted to commercial deployment. Sebastian invited Scott, who handles Midnight's partnerships, to the stage and emphasized that Midnight has moved beyond the research stage and is becoming a vast ecosystem.

Midnight is not just a testing ground for cutting-edge technologies. Centered on 'usable privacy,' it is connecting developers, businesses, and general users to the real-world business landscape.

In the latter half of the event, multiple experts discussed how Midnight will integrate with the existing blockchain ecosystem and the future evolution of Cardano itself.

What was common in their discussions was the philosophy of 'expanding' rather than 'replacing', and 'maturing' rather than 'destroying'.

Midnight is not a migration destination but an 'Integration Layer'

Scott from the Midnight Foundation clarified that Midnight is neither a successor nor a competitor to Cardano.
Midnight is an 'expansion layer' that adds privacy functionality to the existing ecosystem.

The areas of application for Midnight mentioned include privacy payments, medical data management, protection of confidential information in AI agents, and privacy-secured electronic voting, among others.

Importantly, there is no need to migrate existing applications on Cardano, Ethereum, or Solana to Midnight.
By integrating Midnight, current applications can be enhanced with privacy features without alteration.

The 'Midnight Force' ambassador community, active worldwide, supports regional education and community formation. Midnight is expanding not only through technology but also through human networks.

Decentralized Governance Already in 'Practical Phase'

A representative from Intersect emphasized that Cardano's decentralized governance is not just an ideal but has already entered practical operation.

Based on the Cardano constitution approved in December 2024, budget management and decision-making are now conducted on-chain.
This constitution is not a 'fixed document' but is designed as an 'evolving constitution'.

A symbolic case was the constitutional amendment proposed by the Japanese community.
The first amendment proposed by Japanese community members was approved, updating Cardano's rules in a global and decentralized manner.

Moreover, Midnight, as a corporate member of Intersect, contributes its expertise in privacy and compliance to the governance layer.
Cardano and Midnight are strengthening their ties not only technically but also at the governance layer.

Node Diversity Creates an 'Unstoppable Network'

Christina, CEO of Blink Labs, highlighted another key feature of the Cardano network: 'node implementation diversity'.

In the history of blockchain, reliance on a single client has been a significant risk.
In the past, Ethereum nearly halted due to vulnerabilities in a specific client, but the situation was averted because another client was operational.

In Cardano, instead of relying solely on Haskell-built nodes, diverse node implementations in Rust (Amaru, Dolos), Go (Dingo), TypeScript (Giralamo, Scalus), C++, and C# are being developed.

This diversity helps avoid the risk of the entire network halting due to bugs in a specific implementation.
It also creates an environment where engineers can participate in Cardano using the languages they are proficient in, thus broadening the developer base.

Leios Brings a Qualitative Shift in Scaling

The highlight of the latter half was the presentation by Michael, the product manager of Cardano Core, on the next-generation scaling technology 'Leios (レイオス)'.

Currently, Cardano has a processing capacity of 10-15 transactions per second (TPS).
Leios aims to increase this by 50 times by the end of 2026, and ultimately more than 100 times.

The mechanism involves moving away from the traditional method of chaining blocks in a single line to a structure that performs parallel processing using multiple 'Endorsing Blocks'.

Importantly, this acceleration does not sacrifice decentralization or security.
The decentralization and safety that Cardano has built up so far are maintained.

The roadmap for Leios has already been outlined, with a 1,000 TPS demonstration planned for the first half of 2026, followed by the launch of a public testnet, and implementation on the mainnet scheduled for the end of the year.

Beyond the Trilemma Protocol

As the session concluded, Charles Hoskinson took the stage again to summarize the significance of Leios.

It has long been thought that blockchain faces a so-called trilemma: 'centralization as it speeds up', 'slowness as it decentralizes', and 'compromised security if both are achieved'.

Hoskinson stated that Leios is the first protocol in the history of computer science to solve this trilemma.

This is not a minor improvement but an attempt to create infrastructure that, like a spaceship with multiple backup systems, operates at extreme speeds without stopping, regardless of what happens.

Midnight and Cardano are simultaneously addressing multiple challenges: privacy, governance, decentralization, and scalability.
The plans discussed in Fukuoka are concrete blueprints for advancing blockchain to the next stage.

Born in Japan, Reporting Back to Japan

——What are the goals you aim to achieve with this Midnight Japan Tour?

Charles Hoskinson: There are three main objectives. First, to reaffirm the fact that Cardano was born in Japan. It started here with both capital and talent, and this year marks its tenth anniversary. Given our large community, it's our responsibility to visit Japan annually and report on what's happening within the ecosystem.

This is why Intersect is here, and why we discuss technologies like Hydra and Leios. It's a snapshot of whether 'Cardano is still competitive' and 'truly alive'. It's about sharing our strategies and vision on how we compete with other ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana, with transparency being a priority for this tour.

Secondly, to communicate the new competitive edge that Midnight brings to Cardano. Midnight opens up an entirely new dimension, but it requires existing Cardano applications and infrastructure to upgrade with Midnight's capabilities in mind. It's a clear call to action: 'If you're building on Cardano, we want you to use Midnight.'

Midnight introduces many new features, including enhanced privacy, which is why I travel around explaining 'What is Midnight?', 'Why does it exist?', and 'What problems does it solve?'

Thirdly, Midnight is not only for individual use (retail) but can also serve as a robust foundation for nations and corporations. It can be utilized by the Japanese government for regulating DeFi and ensuring tax compliance, and Japanese companies can adopt smart compliance and abstraction mechanisms.

Midnight is a unique product that can support a broader audience. That's why I'm touring, continuing dialogues with the Midnight Foundation and partner directors, to present new possibilities that bridge traditional finance and DeFi.

'Useful for Everyone' or It's Meaningless

——You've been touring various parts of Japan. Is there also an intention to bridge the gap between TradFi and DeFi?

Hoskinson: More importantly, it's about being 'useful for everyone'. Technologies that only serve giants like Sony or Toyota are meaningless. It must also benefit the sake breweries in Hokkaido, the fishermen in Fukuoka, and the clothing manufacturers in Osaka.

GDP is only possible when different industries and lifestyles cooperate. The privacy, governance, and compliance offered by Midnight can be applied across all industries including healthcare, education, and manufacturing.

Touring the country means seeing 'everything'. This includes urban and rural areas, wealthy and less affluent places, regions with older populations, and those with younger demographics.

Listening to people in various locations reveals their concerns and values. We aim to gather these voices, build communities, and help these communities create businesses with this technology.

Cryptocurrencies have unfortunately been perceived merely as 'tokens' that fluctuate in price. However, their essence is different. They are technologies that involve economic, political, and social systems.

To truly understand, one must confront the question, 'How can a country be run on cryptocurrencies?' My dream is to see Japan operating on Cardano and Midnight by 2035.

——What was the most memorable place you visited on this tour?

Hoskinson: The most striking was Hokkaido. Despite the harsh conditions of two meters of snow, people gathered. Some traveled dangerous roads for three hours to join us. There was a sense of discipline and perseverance.

Attention usually focuses on major cities like Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, which is unfortunate. The regions have beauty, pride, and potential.

Whether it's 5 people or 50, going to these places has meaning. The locals are proud and always recommend delicious places to eat (laughs). What excites me the most is the question, 'How can we grow the local economy?'

Employment should not only be in the small apartments of Roppongi but also needs to be created in places like Fukuoka, Okinawa, and Hokkaido. Technology makes this possible. Blockchain provides a 'management layer' that enables globalization without the need to relocate.

I'm from Wyoming, a state with a population of about 500,000. Most people just pass through without stopping. That's why there's a romance in visiting these regions and meeting the people. The most sincere, loyal, and capable individuals often reside in such places.

——Fukuoka is also a powerful city with its own economic sphere, but how will Midnight change the city's businesses and people?

Hoskinson: The essence of blockchain is not the new technology itself, but rather, it's about returning economic control to the people who create value.

Over the past six years, my work through Midnight has not been about replacing or destroying existing businesses or communities. It's about providing a foundation for local businesses that have been operating for years to define, protect, and grow their own value.

Fukuoka has a tangible economy built over generations, including trading companies, manufacturers, distributors, service industries, tourism, and family-run businesses.

Meanwhile, important aspects such as finance, payments, credit, and data have been dependent on centralized systems in Tokyo or abroad.

Midnight is designed to quietly reduce this dependency. It allows for proving ownership, contracts, compliance, sustainability, and the legitimacy of transactions without disclosing the underlying data.

This enables Fukuoka's businesses to connect with the world on equal footing while protecting their privacy and relationships with trading partners.

What's important is not 'showing' but being able to 'prove'. Midnight incorporates privacy and regulatory compliance not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental part of its design. This is not idealism, but a practical necessity for local businesses.

For me, digital assets are not about speculation or ideology. They should be a quiet infrastructure that supports society, like electricity or the internet.

Through this foundation, businesses in Fukuoka can gradually regain control, not lose something.

Regions can connect their values to the world on their own terms. Our research shows that Fukuoka is one of the cities where this model functions most naturally.

Cardano is not a 'Product' but a 'Culture'

——What impact does traveling with the team have on them?

Hoskinson: To be honest, it's incredibly demanding. Our pace of activity is fast, and for those not used to it, it might feel like being part of a special forces or rock star tour (laughs).

Yet, they witness the expansion of this community. If you only look at the token price, it might seem like Cardano has no community. However, in reality, there are 1.4 million ADA holders. That's comparable to the population of a 'nation'.

Wherever we go, there are people with a decade's worth of history and context. Eventually, they realize that Cardano is not just a product, but a 'culture'.

There are ambassadors with the logo tattooed on them. You wouldn't see this level of commitment with a Microsoft product. This strong identity is what supports us.

Even after 10 years, so many people gather. We must be doing something right.