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Introduction
Midstate (MDS) is a peer-to-peer electronic cash Layer 1 blockchain built around post-quantum cryptography, sequential Proof of Work, bounded state requirements, and privacy-oriented transaction design. The network uses BLAKE3-based cryptography instead of elliptic curves and is engineered to remain accessible to commodity hardware and constrained edge devices.
MDS is the native cryptocurrency of the Midstate network. Midstate uses 60-second blocks, ASERT difficulty adjustment, power-of-two UTXO denominations, a commit-reveal transaction system, and hash-based WOTS+ and Merkle signature schemes. The network launched with no premine or developer allocation and uses a predictable halving schedule with a permanent tail emission.
Project Background
Midstate is an independent Layer 1 blockchain designed as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. The protocol was developed from the ground up for constrained hardware environments, with particular attention to reducing the storage, memory, and computational requirements associated with operating a fully validating node.
The network uses sequential BLAKE3 Proof of Work. Each mining attempt requires one million sequential BLAKE3 compression cycles, with every calculation dependent on the result immediately preceding it. Multiple nonces can still be searched in parallel, allowing CPU and GPU hardware to participate while maintaining the protocol's sequential work requirement.
Midstate does not use elliptic curve cryptography. Standard transactions use Winternitz One-Time Signatures, while Merkle Signature Schemes provide reusable addresses by organizing multiple WOTS keys within a Merkle tree. BLAKE3 is used throughout the protocol for signatures, commitments, hashing, and related cryptographic operations.
The transaction system uses a two-phase commit-reveal process. A transaction is first represented by a blinded commitment containing a cryptographic binding of its inputs and outputs. After the commitment has been included in a block, the transaction details and signatures are revealed and executed. This structure is designed to limit transaction information available before block inclusion and reduce opportunities for transaction reordering and front-running.
Midstate requires UTXOs to use power-of-two denominations. This creates standardized output values rather than arbitrary amounts and supports the network's privacy-oriented transaction model. The protocol also incorporates native CoinJoin functionality, Dandelion++ transaction propagation, compact block filters, and a Sparse Merkle Tree state system designed to limit long-term node storage requirements.
History
Midstate was developed as a new blockchain implementation rather than a fork of an existing cryptocurrency. Its design focuses on post-quantum hash-based cryptography, commodity-hardware mining, bounded blockchain state, transaction privacy, and a programmable UTXO architecture.
The network's genesis construction was anchored to Bitcoin block 938708, mined on February 24, 2026. The hash of that Bitcoin block was incorporated into Midstate's initial cryptographic state, providing a publicly verifiable timestamp demonstrating that the Midstate chain could not have existed before the referenced Bitcoin block.
The network launched without a premine, developer allocation, or hidden genesis supply. MDS issuance began through Proof of Work mining according to the protocol's predefined emission rules.
Development subsequently expanded beyond the base consensus and transaction system to include GPU and SIMD-accelerated mining, a desktop client, browser-based wallet, native block explorer, decentralized pool infrastructure, compact block filters, fast-forward synchronization, MidstateScript, and developer tooling.
Midstate has also developed Q-Bolt, a Layer 2 payment channel system, and Midscript, a higher-level development environment for building applications and covenants on the network. A separate MimbleWimble-inspired companion chain called Midwimble is being developed for private transactions, with checkpoints designed to anchor into the Midstate blockchain.
Tokenomics and Emissions
MDS uses a mathematically defined Proof of Work emission schedule. The initial block reward is 1 gMDS per block, with a target block interval of 60 seconds. The reward halves every 525,600 blocks, corresponding to approximately one year at the target block interval.
Midstate uses binary denominations rather than conventional decimal units. One kMDS represents 1,024 MDS, one mMDS represents 1,048,576 MDS, and one gMDS represents 1,073,741,824 base MDS units.
The protocol's maximum lifetime supply approaches approximately 1.05 million gMDS, equivalent to roughly 1.12 quadrillion base MDS units. The supply curve is disinflationary, with block rewards repeatedly halving over time.
Unlike blockchains whose mining subsidy eventually reaches zero, Midstate includes a permanent tail emission. After approximately 30 years of scheduled reductions, the block reward reaches a floor of one base MDS unit per block and remains at that level, providing continuing Proof of Work issuance for network security.
Midstate launched without a premine or developer allocation. The genesis supply was zero, and newly created MDS enters circulation through Proof of Work mining according to the network's consensus-defined emission schedule.
The protocol also uses a two-dimensional fee system. Transaction commitments use computational Proof of Work as an anti-spam mechanism, while transaction reveals pay conventional value-based fees when executing the underlying transfer.
Roadmap
Midstate's roadmap focuses on expanding the live Layer 1 network into a broader programmable payment ecosystem while continuing development of its mining, privacy, Layer 2, and developer infrastructure.
Core Layer 1 components already implemented include sequential BLAKE3 Proof of Work, post-quantum WOTS and Merkle signatures, two-phase commit-reveal transactions, power-of-two denominations, bounded Sparse Merkle Tree state, ASERT difficulty adjustment, compact block filters, fast-forward synchronization, and native covenant functionality.
Mining development includes CPU SIMD and GPU mining implementations along with a decentralized pool architecture that allows miners to independently verify their contribution to block templates. A future milestone is integrating mining directly into the desktop client so users can synchronize the blockchain, manage MDS, and mine through a unified application.
Layer 2 development centers on Q-Bolt payment channels and routing infrastructure intended to support faster off-chain payments. The project is also developing additional liquidity and routing mechanisms for cross-chain and Layer 2 transactions.
The developer roadmap includes native token functionality, an automated market maker for token trading, improvements to the JavaScript SDK, on-chain competitions and escrow applications, and potential decentralized governance infrastructure built using Midstate's own scripting system.
Midwimble is being developed alongside Midstate as a separate MimbleWimble-inspired privacy chain. The design allows Midwimble state checkpoints to be anchored into Midstate while keeping the two consensus systems separate, allowing privacy functionality to evolve independently from the base Midstate protocol.
Project Links
Website:
https://midstate.cash/
Whitepaper:
Midstate Whypaper
Roadmap:
Midstate Roadmap
Explorer:
Midstate Explorer
Downloads:
Midstate Releases
GitHub:
https://github.com/ciphernom/midstate
Development
Midstate Core
Midscript IDE
Midwimble

