Cardano’s Push for Privacy and Precision Gains Momentum with Brave and Masumi Milestones
Cardano continues to distinguish itself within the blockchain sector, emphasizing not only its advanced technology but also a core commitment to responsible and principled development, a vision consistently articulated by its founder, Charles Hoskinson.
Recent activities underscore this dedication, including the successful audit of Masumi Smart Contracts by NMKR, an effort led by CEO Patrick Tobler and supported by TxPipe. This accomplishment serves as a testament to Cardano’s expanding ecosystem and its ongoing technical maturation.
However, the bigger story lies in how Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain, Midnight, is positioning itself as a game-changer. By integrating with Brave Browser an application with over 84 million users Midnight is paving the way for secure, private, and scalable internet usage. This partnership could significantly influence not just the crypto world but the broader digital landscape.
Midnight, Cardano’s zero-knowledge (ZK) platform, is poised to bring privacy to everyday internet activities. By supporting Brave Ads and Brave VPN, Midnight aims to provide robust privacy infrastructure.
This integration allows Brave to enhance its user offerings while also opening new revenue channels. With zero-knowledge proofs, users can validate data without exposing personal information. Hence, this reduces data breaches and strengthens user control.
Related: Hoskinson Promises “Overdue” Cardano Deals After Brave Partnership Shakes Market
The Brave ecosystem already leverages the Basic Attention Token (BAT) for rewarding user attention. Adding privacy layers from Midnight will elevate its capabilities. Moreover, integrating ZK protocols with Brave VPN could reshape how internet users experience privacy online. Subscriptions become more secure, and ad targeting can maintain relevance without compromising identity.
Beyond Brave, Midnight holds broader implications . It aims to serve as a privacy layer not only for Cardano but for the internet as a whole. This expansion aligns with Cardano’s long-term vision of real-world blockchain utility. Hoskinson believes these developments could impact billions by securing digital identities and ensuring safe, scalable interactions online.
Related: Cardano Community Cheers Hoskinson’s New “Faster Progress” Strategy
Additionally, Midnight’s design ensures scalability, which is critical for mass adoption. As data privacy regulations tighten globally, solutions like Midnight will become increasingly essential.
Significantly, Cardano’s measured approach auditing smart contracts, forming strategic partnerships, and integrating advanced cryptography sets a benchmark for responsible innovation.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.
Leadership Under Fire Ethereum’s Answer To Critics
At Consensus 2025 in Toronto, Ethereum broke its silence. Facing criticisms about its governance, technical roadmap, and talent drain, Paul Brody (EY) and Josh Stark (Ethereum Foundation) defended a clear vision: that of a complex but fundamentally robust network. While the ETH price stagnates and competition intensifies, Ethereum’s leaders bet on the long term and remind that markets will eventually catch up with the technology, not the other way around.
While recent Ethereum news is dominated by a prolonged drop in the ETH price and a visible decline in developer engagement, criticisms focus on a sensitive point: the governance of the Ethereum Foundation.
Josh Stark, panelist at Consensus 2025 from May 14 to 16, openly acknowledged the community’s expectations :
The ecosystem needs stronger leadership […] on the roadmap, its execution, and the coordination of efforts to address major challenges.
This partial self-criticism, however, did not prevent the speakers from defending the work already accomplished.
Paul Brody, president of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance and a key figure at EY, took the opportunity to praise Aya Miyaguchi’s work, former executive director of the Foundation: “Looking objectively at the results of her term, I give her an A+“, he stated.
Here are the main points raised regarding the governance of the Ethereum network :
This institutional clarification aims to stabilize a sprawling project often seen as lacking clarity since its transition to proof-of-stake.
While the effects of this reorganization on the ETH price or community dynamics remain to be proven, it nonetheless signals a stated intent to regain narrative and strategic control within a sometimes divided ecosystem.
Beyond organizational aspects, representatives of Ethereum defended the network’s technological direction, particularly the deliberate choice of a “rollup-centric” model.
Paul Brody reminded that Ethereum is now a proof-of-stake blockchain supporting more than 120 layer 2 solutions, with a daily capacity between “300 and 450 million transactions“.
He emphasized that on these L2s, transaction fees have been below one cent for three months. Facing criticisms denouncing excessive fragmentation or loss of network coherence, Brody did not back down: “I am delighted“, he asserted regarding the current roadmap.
Josh Stark defended this modularity as a visionary choice, stating that “no ecosystem will be able to avoid this type of structure long term“.
This technical positioning is not without consequence. While it allows a drastic reduction of usage costs and unprecedented scalability, it also introduces new vulnerabilities.
Rollups raise complex questions about security, cross-chain trust, and user experience, sometimes creating counterproductive silo effects.
However, for Stark, these obstacles are normal in a deep innovation process: “We are the ones who have advanced furthest on this path, and we face the turns and challenges“, he explained.
The implications of this debate go far beyond Ethereum. They touch on a fundamental question: is technical complexity a barrier or an asset in building a long-term infrastructure network? While Bitcoin benefits from a simplified narrative around being a store of value, Ethereum claims a more sophisticated vision, less readable for short-term markets but potentially more fertile. Josh Stark is convinced: “markets always end up reflecting value. And Ethereum is the most important project in crypto history“.
Solana Virtual Machine SOON Foundation X account published a post for the first time, possibly hinting at the upcoming TGE
According to official news, Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) Rollup SOON announced that the SOON Foundation has been officially established, aiming to promote the development of the SOON ecosystem based on Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) and implement the "Super Adoption Stack (SAS)" vision. The Foundation focuses on ecological acceleration, transparent governance, security management and strategic cooperation, and plans to hold global hackathons, launch enterprise-level toolkits and conduct research in conjunction with multiple universities.
Is MetaMask About to Launch Its Own Token? The Mystery Deepens
A smirk, an evasive answer. During a recent episode of The Block’s Crypto Beat podcast, Dan Finlay, co-founder of MetaMask, reignited speculation about a hypothetical native token for the Ethereum wallet. “Maybe,” he said, hinting at a possibility long simmering behind the scenes. While the idea of a homegrown crypto has stirred the community since 2021, Finlay’s statements reveal as much enthusiasm as caution. Between gradual decentralization, shifting regulations, and fears of fraud, MetaMask navigates a landscape where every step counts.
Since 2021, the word “MASK” has hovered like a shadow over the Ethereum ecosystem. Back then, Erik Marks, an engineer at MetaMask, already spoke of community ownership of the wallet through a token. A vision reinforced by Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys (MetaMask’s parent company), who tweeted in 2021: “Wen $MASK?”.
This wink, far from trivial, was part of a broader strategy: the “progressive decentralization” of Consensys’s products.
In 2022, Lubin outlined the contours of the project. The crypto was to be accompanied by a DAO, not to govern, but to fund community initiatives, like the structure envisaged around MetaMask .
A bold but cautious approach: no question of creating a simple speculative vehicle. Anti-airdrop farming mechanisms were planned, and the model carefully avoided any resemblance to a traditional fundraising. “This isn’t a money grab,” Lubin stressed.
Yet, the project still appears in limbo. Why? Regulation, of course. Dan Finlay reminds us that “securities law remains securities law,” referring to the positions of Gary Gensler, former SEC chairman.
Despite regulatory easing under the Trump administration—which offers protection for more types of cryptocurrencies—MetaMask prefers to move cautiously. Because in this game, a wrong note could cost its 30 million monthly users dearly.
“Speculation is almost the worst,” asserts Finlay. Behind this phrase lies a harsh reality: every rumor about a MASK crypto becomes a boon for scammers. Phishing, fake links, scams… The co-founder insists: if a launch happens, the information will be directly in the wallet, no SMS or emails. A vital precaution, as MetaMask is a magnet for fraudsters.
This caution also extends to competition. Facing rivals like Rainbow or Rabby, who focus on user experience, MetaMask must innovate without losing its soul.
“We are in a permissionless space,” reminds Finlay. Translation: the wallet war is won through simplicity and security, not empty promises. Recent UX updates—management of multiple wallets, fee reductions via MetaMask Bridges—aim to maintain its leading position.
Regulatory questions remain, a true Damocles’ sword. While the current environment seems more lenient, Finlay points out many projects still operate in “gray areas.” A MASK crypto must therefore embody a delicate balance: innovative enough to attract, solid enough to withstand legal shocks. “I hope people will seize this opportunity to push boundaries,” he adds, without specifying which ones.
Between the lines of his “maybe,” Dan Finlay sketches a future where MetaMask is not only a tool but an autonomous ecosystem. A bold bet, as expectations are high and obstacles numerous. That is why the BIS issues a warning , hoping to slow down—even if only a little—the speculation raging in the sector.