Many people see Dusk and think of another EVM-compatible chain, but they underestimate its ambition. This architecture is carefully designed: three layers—Privacy Settlement Layer (DuskDS) + Contract-Level ZK Engine (Hedger) + Execution Layer (DuskEVM).

The execution layer is standard Solidity, with minimal learning curve for developers. EVM ecosystem tools, audit libraries, and codebases are fully compatible, which is very important.

Interestingly, the settlement layer. Privacy is enforced by default—using ZK proofs to hide your balance, transfer amounts, and transaction intentions. But there is a clever design called "Selective Disclosure," which sounds like a backdoor but is actually a regulator-friendly feature. Routine transactions run privately, and during regulatory audits, compliance proofs can be generated with one click, making it easy for institutions and regulators.

The testnet is already operational. It solves the two biggest dilemmas faced by institutions: on one side, on-chain data is prone to leaks; on the other, regulatory requirements are unmet.

Compared to other privacy chains—Monero and Zcash pursue complete privacy but are unauditably private; public chains operate transparently with no privacy. Dusk strikes a balance between both ends, truly enabling optional privacy and mandatory compliance.

Once applications like DuskTrade and NPEX go live, they can operate at scale under the European MiCA framework, becoming the first real example of RegDeFi. This is not just theory, but something that can be delivered.