Why Privacy is the Next Big Thing in Crypto – Midnight CEO Eran Barak Explains

In this episode, I sit down with Eran Barak, the CEO of Midnight, a groundbreaking new privacy-focused blockchain incubated by IOHK (Input Output, the team behind Cardano). Eran has an incredible background—before diving into Web3, he built the financial world’s digital plumbing at Symphony, a secure communications platform used by thousands of banks and institutions. Now, he’s bringing privacy and selective disclosure to blockchain, solving one of the biggest hurdles in getting businesses to adopt the technology.

We dive deep into:

• Why privacy isn’t just a buzzword, but a necessity for blockchain to go mainstream
• The problem with public blockchains and how metadata leaks can be dangerous
• How Midnight is using zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to protect data while keeping it usable
• The rise of AI and why your private data is the next target for machine learning models
• Why traditional finance players are still struggling to adopt Web3—and what needs to change

If you’re interested in the intersection of AI, privacy, and blockchain, this is an episode that will blow your mind and show you where the industry is really headed.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Blockchain can’t go mainstream without solving privacy, but regulators still resist full anonymity.
✅ The Midnight blockchain introduces a dual-token system to balance compliance and privacy.
✅ Zero-knowledge proofs allow selective disclosure, meaning your data remains private while still proving facts about it.
✅ AI is the next frontier—your personal data is already public, but blockchain can help protect what’s left.
✅ Traditional finance still relies on outdated infrastructure, but Web3 can offer a better, more secure alternative.

Listen & Subscribe:

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts!

Follow Us:

📢 Follow me on Twitter (@CharlieShrem) for behind-the-scenes insights and updates!

Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.