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Horizen (ZEN) is a leading Layer 0 blockchain platform that has evolved from a privacy-focused digital currency into a robust ecosystem for building custom, scalable sidechains.

Key takeaways

• Horizen began as a privacy-focused cryptocurrency (Zcash fork) but has transformed into a versatile Layer 0 platform supporting custom sidechains.
• It employs a unique hybrid consensus model combining Proof-of-Work (PoW) for mainchain security and a novel Proof-of-Stake (PoS) variant called Electrum PoS (EPoS) for sidechain consensus.
• The ZEN token is the native asset, used for paying transaction fees, securing the network through staking, and participating in governance via the Horizen DAO.
• The ecosystem's core innovation is the Zendoo protocol, which enables developers to launch fully independent, customisable blockchains (sidechains) without needing constant communication with the mainchain.
• Horizen maintains a capped maximum supply of 21 million ZEN, similar to Bitcoin, with a transparent and predictable emission schedule.

What is Horizen? Key Specifications & Tokenomics

Horizen is a blockchain platform designed to solve scalability and interoperability challenges by enabling the creation of custom, application-specific sidechains.

Who created Horizen (ZEN)?

Horizen was founded in 2017 by Robert Viglione and Rolf Versluis. The project was initially launched as a fork of Zcash, inheriting its strong privacy features via the zk-SNARKs protocol. The vision, led by Viglione who served as CEO for many years, was always broader than just creating another privacy coin. The team aimed to build a comprehensive ecosystem that could support real-world applications. This long-term vision culminated in the development of the Zendoo sidechain protocol, marking Horizen's strategic pivot from a pure cryptocurrency to a foundational Layer 0 platform. The project is backed by the Horizen DAO, a decentralised autonomous organisation that now guides its development and treasury.

How does Horizen (ZEN) work?

Horizen operates on a two-tiered architecture that separates security from scalability. The Horizen Mainchain acts as a secure Layer 0 settlement layer. It uses a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, secured by miners, and is responsible for recording the state of all connected sidechains in a highly efficient cryptographic format. The real innovation lies in the Zendoo protocol. This framework allows anyone to build their own fully customisable blockchain, known as a sidechain. These sidechains operate independently with their own rules, consensus models (typically using Horizen's Electrum PoS), and tokens. They only need to periodically submit cryptographic proofs (called Certificate Proofs) back to the mainchain to finalise their state, eliminating the need for constant, trustless cross-chain communication. This design makes sidechains fast, scalable, and flexible while still being anchored to the security of the mainchain.

What makes Horizen (ZEN) unique and valuable?

Horizen's primary uniqueness stems from its Zendoo sidechain protocol, a truly permissionless and flexible framework for blockchain creation. Unlike other sidechain or Layer 2 solutions that often impose the mainchain's virtual machine or rules, Zendoo allows developers to define every aspect of their sidechain, from consensus to tokenomics. This makes it exceptionally valuable for enterprises and projects needing a tailored blockchain solution without the overhead of bootstrapping a brand-new network's security. Secondly, its hybrid consensus model strategically combines the battle-tested security of PoW for the mainchain with the energy efficiency and scalability of a novel PoS system (EPoS) for sidechains. Finally, Horizen maintains a strong commitment to privacy as an option, inherited from its Zcash roots, and has established a robust governance and treasury system through its DAO, ensuring sustainable, community-led development.

What is Horizen (ZEN) used for?

The ZEN token serves multiple critical functions within the Horizen ecosystem:

• Network Fees: ZEN is used to pay for transaction fees on the Horizen mainchain.
• Sidechain Security (Staking): To operate a node (Secure or Super Node) on a sidechain using the EPoS consensus, participants must stake a significant amount of ZEN. This staking secures the sidechain and earns rewards.
• Governance: ZEN holders can participate in the Horizen DAO to vote on key proposals regarding ecosystem development, treasury allocation, and protocol upgrades.
• Medium of Exchange: While its role as a private payment coin has diminished, ZEN can still be used as a digital currency for transactions.
• Ecosystem Fuel: As the native asset, ZEN is expected to be the primary value transfer asset between the mainchain and various sidechains within the ecosystem.

How Is the Horizen (ZEN) Ecosystem Developing?

The Horizen ecosystem is actively expanding beyond its mainchain, focused on onboarding real-world applications via its sidechain technology. Key developments include:

• Sidechain Deployment: The launch of flagship sidechains like the EON sidechain, which is EVM-compatible, allowing Ethereum developers to easily port their dApps to Horizen's scalable environment.
• Strategic Partnerships: Horizen has formed partnerships aimed at bringing enterprise use cases to its platform, including areas like supply chain tracking, data integrity, and secure messaging.
• DAO-Led Growth: The Horizen DAO controls a substantial treasury funded by block rewards, which is used to grant funding to developers, marketers, and community initiatives that build on or promote the ecosystem.
• Developer Tools: Continuous improvement of the Software Development Kit (SDK) and documentation to lower the barrier for developers to build custom sidechains.

How to mine Horizen (ZEN)?

Horizen's mainchain is secured through Proof-of-Work mining using the Equihash algorithm.

• Mining Hardware: Due to high network difficulty, mining ZEN profitably requires specialised Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) miners, such as those produced by Bitmain (Antminer Z series). GPU mining is no longer viable.
• Mining Process: Miners compete to solve complex cryptographic puzzles. The first miner to find a valid solution gets to add a new block to the blockchain and is rewarded with newly minted ZEN and transaction fees.
• Getting Started: To begin, you'll need to acquire ASIC hardware, set up a Horizen-compatible mining software, and join a mining pool to combine hashing power with other miners for more consistent rewards. It's crucial to calculate profitability considering hardware costs, electricity rates, and network difficulty.

How to keep your ZEN Coin safe?

Securing your ZEN tokens is paramount. Here are the recommended methods:

• Hardware Wallets: The gold standard for security. Devices like Ledger (via the Horizen app) or Trezor (using third-party interfaces) store your private keys offline, making them immune to online hacks.
• Official Software Wallets: For regular use, the official Horizen Swing Wallet is a robust desktop option that gives you full control of your funds. For staking or interacting with sidechains, the Horizen Sphere by Horizen mobile wallet is a versatile choice.
• Exchange Wallets: While convenient for trading, storing large amounts of ZEN on an exchange like BTCC is not recommended for long-term holdings. Use exchange wallets only for active trading purposes.
• General Security: Always back up your wallet's recovery seed phrase on paper and store it in multiple secure physical locations. Never share your private keys or seed phrase with anyone.

How to buy ZEN Coin?

ZEN is a popular cryptocurrency listed on many exchanges. However, it is recommended to trade on a major platform like BTCC exchange for higher liquidity and better customer support.

1. Register a BTCC Account: Sign up using your email or mobile number and complete the KYC verification to unlock more features and benefits of the platform.
2. Deposit Funds: Deposit fiat currency (via bank transfer, card, or third-party payment) or transfer USDT from an external wallet into your BTCC account. You can follow this guide.
3. Start Trading: Go to the trading page and search for the spot trading pair ZEN/USDT or the perpetual contract ZEN/USDT.
4. Place an Order: Enter the amount of ZEN you wish to purchase and submit the order. For contract trading, you can also choose to go short (sell) and adjust the leverage multiplier according to your strategy and risk tolerance.
5. Confirm Your Purchase: For spot purchases, check your personal account to see if the coins have arrived. For contract trades, check the trading page to see if your order was filled successfully.