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Integration Paths

This page covers launching your own token on Midnight. Bridging tokens VIA already supports, for example USDM, is permissionless — follow the USDM bridge guide.

Like Cardano, Midnight integrations are built together with VIA. The setup is simpler. Your integration is one Compact contract, deployed from compiled artifacts. Its configuration lives inside it — endpoints, relayers, and fees are a few admin circuit calls. There is no separate registry step.

There are two token patterns:

  1. Burn & Mint Client — for a token your contract issues on Midnight. Sending burns it on Midnight. The destination chain mints it. This is also the client for Lock & Mint, where the token locks on another chain and your contract mints it on Midnight — the pattern USDM runs today.
  2. Lock & Release Client — for a token that already exists on Midnight and that your contract does not issue. Sending locks it in the contract. Receiving releases it from the locked pool.

VIA supplies your VIA chain ID, the relayer key your contract allowlists, and the endpoint configuration on the far side.

What to Prepare​

  1. The token. A Midnight-native token (burn & mint), or one that lives on another chain (lock & mint).
  2. The chains. List every route you want, in both directions.
  3. The admin key. The owner role controls endpoints, relayers, fees, and pause. Decide who holds it.
  4. Testnet first. Plan a full test on Midnight Preview before mainnet.
Keys stay with you

Never share a private key or mnemonic with anyone — including VIA. VIA never asks for your keys.

Next Steps​