'Don't Let the Vampires In': Cardano Founder Names Essence of Midnight Network

Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson recently praised Midnight Network as a solution to centralized digital identity control. Hoskinson emphasized that Midnight can combat the challenges posed by centralized entities and open-source projects, describing it as a safe haven for opinions without fear of censorship or blacklisting.

Hoskinson’s remark, "This is why Midnight exists. Don't let the vampires in", highlights the ongoing clash in the crypto space — decentralized resistance versus centralized control. His comments were made in response to a viral post by Jim Ferguson, founder of Freedom Train International, which warned about a "digital surveillance grid" being built through the EU’s push for mandatory digital IDs.

In his post, Ferguson referenced a recent statement by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Sánchez advocated for ending online anonymity on social media by linking all user accounts to the EU’s Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet). According to Sánchez, anonymous online activity is like "walking the streets with a mask" or driving without a license, claiming it enables misinformation, hate speech, and harms democracy.

Ferguson criticized the EU’s plans, explaining that they aim to abolish digital privacy by forcing every citizen to attach their name, ID, and biometric data to their online activity. Sánchez suggested that while users could maintain a public handle, they would still have to verify their real identity behind the scenes to ensure accountability.

In response to these developments, Charles Hoskinson positioned Midnight as a defense against centralized control. Midnight, a privacy-focused sidechain developed by IOG and built on the Cardano ecosystem, provides users with the ability to interact with decentralized applications (dApps) and share/store sensitive data without revealing their identity to unauthorized entities.

Midnight utilizes zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), a cryptographic method that allows users to prove the validity of information without revealing the information itself. Unlike public blockchains, Midnight ensures that computations and data are shielded from surveillance, providing a layer of security for digital privacy in an increasingly regulated environment.

According to Hoskinson, Midnight was designed precisely to counter threats like Sánchez’s proposal. In a world where governments mandate real-name linking to digital IDs, Hoskinson argues that Midnight is the solution to preserve digital privacy. He also revealed that Midnight is nearing its official launch and announced plans to start a podcast, The Night Shift, as early as January 2026.