Solving Online Privacy, Censorship & Surveillance w/ Midnight’s President

Feb 3, 2026

Fahmi Syed, president of the Midnight Foundation and ex-Parity/finance pro, talks about programmable privacy for blockchain apps. He breaks down rational privacy, risks of financial surveillance, and how privacy can be built at the app level. Conversation covers tokenomics, developer UX like TypeScript-style contracts, and practical use cases for privacy-first digital identity and payments.

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INSIGHT

Programmable Privacy With ZK Contracts

Midnight combines zero-knowledge shielded transactions with smart contracts for programmable privacy.
That lets apps choose what to shield and when to disclose proofs to regulators or counterparties.

ADVICE

Decouple Fees From Capital Tokens

Separate capital/token appreciation from transaction fees to stabilize enterprise costs.
Use a two-token model so firms can predict expenses and avoid holding volatile gas assets.

INSIGHT

Consumable Gas Enables Predictability

Dust decays to zero and represents pure computational resource, not store-of-value.
Night holders emit dust and can lease computational capacity, enabling blockchain-as-a-service.

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Keith & Ben are joined by Fahmi Syed, President of Midnight, to break down the growing issue of financial surveillance and what it means for everyday people.We explore how online privacy is being eroded, why your financial data is more exposed than ever, and how new technologies like Midnight aim to give individuals control over their digital and financial freedom again.https://midnight.network/Follow Fahmi on twitter: https://x.com/F_ZK_NowFollow Midnight on twitter: https://x.com/MidnightNtwrkMemes and Markets explores how culture and memes shape & get shaped by financial markets to present the information you want at a level you can understand and relate to. Don't forget to subscribe to me notified when we go live on Tuesdays & Thursdays.Subscribe to our Substack: https://www.memesandmarkets.com/Memes & Markets Socials x: https://x.com/MemesandmktsTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/memesandmarketsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/memesandmkts/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GSfFx3sQoG2bYAbIYUocN?si=-iGrWrvmTUSEZw7S06AS1gApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/memes-and-markets/id1840280923Our socials Follow Keith on his main channel @theinneroperator Follow Keith on X: https://x.com/inneroperatorFollow Ben's Crypto channel @dontbuy_this Follow Ben's Podcast @BenLeavittShow Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/iambenleavittJoin the waitlist for our Gambling Monitoring App: https://nodice.app/NFT Waitlist: https://forms.gle/tnsHqCnSQMhFYD7D7Chapters00:00 Introduction to Fahmi and His Journey02:56 The Evolution of Blockchain and Crypto05:33 Understanding Rational Privacy11:04 The Dangers of Current Online Interactions14:25 Breaking the Barrier of Privacy Awareness17:52 Programmable Privacy vs. Private Transactions22:33 Innovative Tokenomics and Enterprise Applications27:08 The Role of the Midnight Foundation32:00 Building on Midnight: Opportunities and Resources38:32 The Glacier Drop: Community Ownership and Distribution40:46 Funding Dynamics and Project Integrity43:09 Building a Sustainable Ecosystem44:26 Midnight vs. Ada: A Comparative Insight45:22 Understanding Midnight's Network Structure47:00 The Controversy of Digital Identity49:12 Empowering the Average User51:19 Governance and Privacy Guarantees55:16 The Role of the Dust Token57:01 Invisible Technology and User Experience01:11:03 Funding Dynamics in AI and Space Ventures01:13:11 Speculation in Markets: Crypto vs. Stocks01:14:39 AI Legalities and Ethical Concerns01:16:10 The Hype Cycle of AI and Privacy Issues01:18:05 Global Trade Agreements and Economic Shifts01:22:08 The Future of AGI and Societal Implications01:24:08 Consumer Behavior and Corporate Pricing Strategies01:26:14 Political Alliances and the Future of Governance01:42:14 Radical Perspectives and Confirmation Bias01:44:47 Understanding Radicalization and Communication Strategies01:46:08 The Role of Memes in Modern Discourse01:48:09 Navigating the Meme Coin Market01:51:53 The Importance of Personal Conviction in Investing01:55:17 Mindset and Financial Decisions02:00:18 The Power of Thoughts and Beliefs02:04:52 Bridging Conversations and Creating ChangeDisclaimer This video is for education and entertainment only. We are not financial, legal, tax, or investment advisors. Nothing here is a recommendation or a solicitation to buy/sell any asset or strategy. Crypto and markets are risky—you can lose all your money. Do your own research and consult a qualified professional.We (and guests) may hold positions in assets discussed and may receive sponsorships/affiliate revenue from links—assume we do. Mention of any company, protocol, or product is not an endorsement. Information may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated as of recording. Past performance is not indicative of future results.