Horizen (ZEN)
Horizen is a application platform designed to extend beyond the traditional cryptocurrency ecosystem. It is a scalable blockchain that supports a fully decentralized sidechain ecosystem. Horizen is also a publisher on the Brave web browser.
Company
Horizen was launched in 2017 by the Zen Blockchain Foundation, an American company. In 2019, Horizen Labs was established to manage the platform. Horizen Labs is a blockchain company founded by Robert Viglione, a Puerto Rican PhD candidate at the University of South Carolina, and Jane Lippencott, an investor at Winklevoss Capital Management. The company is based in Delaware City, Delaware, United States, and employs around 50 people.
Overview
| Ticker | ZEN |
| Category | Smart Contract Platform |
| Website | https://www.horizen.io |
| @horizenglobal | |
| Telegram | horizencommunity |
| https://www.reddit.com/r/Horizen |
Horizen operates as a proof-of-work blockchain platform, integrating advanced privacy technology to offer users complete control over their digital presence. The platform supports various real-world applications beyond currency, such as private messaging. It enables both businesses and developers to create their own public or private blockchains on a vast node network. Horizen's Sidechain SDK offers the components needed for quick deployment of customizable blockchains.
Vision
Horizen's future goal is to allow anyone to build privacy-focused applications on its platform and generate income from them. This vision aims to deliver numerous real-life services that offer freedom and utility to users.
Features and products
Horizen has made significant advancements since its launch, including the development of the sidechain protocol, node network, and decentralized governance model. The platform emphasizes community involvement, sustainable economics, and research and development.
Zendoo - Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol
The Zendoo framework enhances blockchain scalability and extensibility by introducing a cross-chain transfer protocol (CCTP). CCTP enables seamless asset transfers between the mainchain and sidechains, supporting a fully decentralized ecosystem. The protocol allows businesses and developers to create efficient blockchain applications using Horizen's secure architecture.
DApps platform
Horizen is a distributed blockchain platform that supports fully decentralized applications. Its ecosystem consists of the native token ZEN, a core protocol, and versatile sidechains, providing developers with opportunities to create applications efficiently and cost-effectively.
A multi-tiered node system
Horizen's secure node system decentralizes the blockchain network, ensuring exceptional censorship resistance and network capacity. The infrastructure supports a high-performing privacy-focused platform with enhanced encryption. Nodes are categorized into Super Nodes and Secure Nodes, each with specific requirements.
Sphere by Horizen
Sphere by Horizen is a multifunctional app that empowers users to manage their privacy and finances. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, the app currently supports wallet and messaging functions, with plans to add more features in the future.
Tokenomics
Horizen's native currency is ZEN, which can be mined using the Equihash (200-9) algorithm. The blockchain has a 2.5-minute block time and a 2MB block size, with rewards distributed among miners, the treasury, and nodes. ZEN supports privacy through two types of addresses: T-Addresses for public transactions and Z-Addresses for private, anonymous transactions.
Horizen Academy
Horizen has established an online academy to educate individuals about blockchain and cryptocurrency. The academy offers a comprehensive curriculum, covering topics from the Cypherpunk Movement to modern blockchain projects like Horizen.
Partnerships
Horizen collaborates with renowned corporate entities and universities globally.
Corporate partners
Horizen's corporate partners include companies such as Infopulse, NTT DATA, Code Particle, IOHK, Deep Dive Technology, Digital Currency Group, Grayscale Investments, Genesis Trading, Interfactura, Hero Engine World, Atlas Bank, and Watchsman PR.
Academic partners
Horizen's academic partnerships include collaborations with Università degli Studi di Salerno, Politecnico di Milano, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Duke University, NC State, Northumbria University, and MCI Management Center Innsbruck. These partnerships focus on areas such as cryptography, blockchain research and development, and UI/UX testing.