Compact Under the Hood: How Midnight’s Smart Contract Language Encodes Privacy by Default

Hey everyone :waving_hand:

I just published a deep dive on Compact, Midnight’s smart contract language, focusing on how it enforces privacy by default at the language level.

The article explores a key shift in how we think about smart contracts:

Instead of executing code on-chain, Compact defines logic that is proven using zero-knowledge systems, meaning data can remain private while still being verifiable.

Some highlights:
• Why Compact is not a general-purpose language
• How circuits replace traditional functions
• The role of witnesses and private inputs
• Why disclose is mandatory for transparency
• The shift from execution → verification

This is especially useful if you’re trying to understand how Midnight differs from traditional chains like Ethereum.

:open_book: Read here:
https://eightblock.dev/articles/compact-under-the-hood-how-midnight-s-smart-contract-language-encodes-privacy-by-default

Would love to hear your thoughts, especially from builders already experimenting with Compact.