Episode Details

Cardano and Midnight had a packed week heading into Token2049, with practical updates across builder funding, stake pools, wallet recovery, developer tooling, payments, privacy apps and enterprise custody. Peter covers the Alpha Growth RFP, EMURGO stake pool handover, SecondFi recovery status, Max Weber's Cardano and Midnight API work, Chatsoon testing, Noctis launches, Midnight events in Singapore, Barça Fan Lab, Fireblocks support for Cardano Native Tokens, Catalyst Pilot 2026 and the latest Cardano Venture Hub cohort.

The episode focuses on what these updates mean for builders and users: where affected SecondFi wallet users stand, why unified Cardano and Midnight APIs matter for AI agents, how privacy and selective disclosure could make Midnight useful, why Fireblocks support changes enterprise access to Cardano native assets, and how new funding cohorts are pushing stablecoins, identity, payments, lending and real-world adoption.

Peter also gives a personal view on the proposed stakePoolTargetNum change from k=500 to k=1000 and how a sudden shift could affect ADAOZ delegators and small pool operators. The goal is to help viewers catch up on the week's major Cardano and Midnight developments without treating any of it as financial advice.

Chapters:
0:00 Cardano and Midnight week
0:30 Alpha Growth RFP
1:10 EMURGO stake pools
3:21 SecondFi recovery update
6:02 Cardano Midnight API
9:03 Building Chatsoon
13:01 AI agent payments
14:25 Noctis launchpad
16:56 Midnight at Token2049
17:54 Barça Fan Lab
21:10 Fireblocks on Cardano
23:31 Catalyst Pilot teams
27:23 Cardano Venture Hub
29:26 K parameter debate
34:43 Wrap up

What you'll learn:
- Alpha Growth's RFP is open for builders from Cardano and other ecosystems who want to bring new products into the Cardano ecosystem.
- EMURGO's stake pools are moving to Shunsuke Murasaki, giving delegators a reason to check where their ADA is staked and whether they want to redelegate.
- SecondFi recovery work is still underway, with Peter explaining the expected recovery process, missing staking rewards and unresolved Midnight claim questions for affected wallets.
- ODATANO and Max Weber's work aims to make Cardano and Midnight accessible through one API, including AI-agent flows, x402 payments, local signing and Midnight proofs.
- Chatsoon has expanded from a simple event networking CRM into an app with contact scanning, follow-ups, Cardano wallet ideas and a potential Midnight privacy identity layer.
- Noctis is preparing Midnight-style privacy token launches, which Peter frames as powerful but also harder for retail users to inspect compared with transparent on-chain launches.
- Fireblocks support for Cardano Native Tokens gives exchanges, banks and fintechs a familiar custody and policy-control layer for Cardano assets.
- Catalyst Pilot 2026 and Cardano Venture Hub cohorts show more funding and accelerator activity around stablecoins, identity, lending, payments, healthcare and supply chains.

Links & References:
Chatsoon Testing Instructions:
- https://link.learncardano.io/rFG31x
- https://link.learncardano.io/Uas23g
Emurgo Stakepools:
- https://link.learncardano.io/0TcWjc
SecondFi Update:
- https://link.learncardano.io/xXxFfm
Cardano Midnight API for Agentic Payments:
- https://link.learncardano.io/3xBmCT
- https://link.learncardano.io/GpJ3QV
- https://link.learncardano.io/643BBv
- https://link.learncardano.io/iiTcib
ADA and Agentic Payments:
- https://link.learncardano.io/XpVQ9q
Noctis Launchpad:
- https://link.learncardano.io/olsUIM
- https://link.learncardano.io/GXPpBT
Midnight at Token2049:
- https://link.learncardano.io/0XF9J5
Barca FC Fan Site:
- https://link.learncardano.io/aCODfX
- https://link.learncardan