$DUSK Dusk Network (DUSK) is a privacy-focused Layer-1 blockchain built for regulated financial markets and real-world assets (RWAs). It emphasizes confidential yet compliant issuance, trading, and settlement of securities and other financial instruments.8b5458 Coinmarketcap Background Founded: Around 2018 (Amsterdam-based roots), with an ICO in November 2018 that raised ~$8 million. Core focus: Bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and DeFi. It enables privacy-preserving smart contracts using zero-knowledge proofs while supporting regulatory compliance (e.g., MiCA in the EU, MiFID II). Unlike pure privacy coins, it prioritizes “auditable privacy” suitable for institutions. Technology: Modular architecture including: DuskDS: Settlement/data availability layer with Succinct Attestation (a PoS consensus variant) for deterministic finality. DuskEVM: EVM-compatible execution layer (Solidity support, faster blocks). DuskVM: ZK-friendly layer for privacy apps. Key milestones: Mainnet launched in early January 2026 (after years of development and testnets). Partnerships include NPEX (Dutch regulated MTF for tokenized securities), Chainlink CCIP, Cordial Systems, and others targeting regulated RWA markets. Features like Dusk Pay and Hyperstaking have been developed. Use cases: Tokenized securities, compliant DeFi, institutional-grade asset issuance/settlement with privacy + auditability. Token utility (DUSK): Gas/fees for transactions and smart contracts. Staking for consensus participation and rewards. Governance and ecosystem incentives. Max supply: 1 billion (500M initial + 500M emitted over ~36 years via geometric decay/halving every 4 years for staking rewards). Circulating supply is in the ~500M range (exact figures vary slightly by source/time).6f6881 docs.dusk The project positions itself in the RWA/privacy-compliance niche rather than general-purpose DeFi or consumer crypto.