Horizen (ZEN) Price, Chart, Market Data & Insights

Horizen works mainly to facilitate privacy-led, zero-knowledge technology to allow dApps to grow in number and be interoperable. Unlike many other projects, ZEN was released only through mining. All its coins are equally scarce, like Bitcoin, making a total of 21 million. The mainchain is PoW, and the side-platform is built on PoS technology. Thanks to the Zendoo protocol in Horizen, you can create custom blockchains that link up without problems and keep privacy an option.

How Does Horizen Work?

Horizen operates a dual-layer blockchain system:

• Proof-of-Work consensus (Equihash) is used on the mainchain, which is the main layer responsible for securing transactions and holding the network together.
• Sidechains are supported by the Zendoo protocol and use Proof-of-Stake, making it possible for developers to create blockchains suited to specific uses.

The Zendoo protocol makes it possible for up to 10,000 sidechains to work together, each one capable of handling 1,000 transactions per second. Thanks to this architecture, Horizen can support up to 10 million TPS, solving the scalability issues that impact many other blockchains.

Horizen and Other Cryptocurrencies

Unlike Monero and Zcash, Horizen offers everyone the choice of how much privacy to keep. Horizen is different from Ethereum and Solana, because it handles computing differently, reducing overloading and boosting efficiency.

Because Horizen runs more than 50,000 active nodes, it is one of the largest and most distributed networks worldwide. Although Bitcoin is very safe, it does not currently support smart contracts or the growth of decentralized applications. Horizen addresses this problem by offering both privacy and a way to run multiple applications from one blockchain.

Technology Behind Horizen

Horizen’s ecosystem is powered by the Zendoo protocol, which enables:

• SNARK-based cross-chain communication
• Permissionless sidechain creation
• Flexible consensus mechanisms
• Privacy-enabled transactions via zero-knowledge proofs

Developers can use tools like Blaze and Latus SDKs to launch chains without needing deep blockchain expertise. The network also supports CCTP (Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol) for asset movement across chains, independent of consensus model or programming language.

Should You Invest in Horizen?

As of May 2025, ZEN trades at $10.00, with a circulating supply of 16 million coins. The coin is up 6.04% year-over-year, but still down over 90% from its all-time high of $168.15.

Horizen’s gradual growth, the ability for institutions to hold it through Grayscale’s Horizen Trust and its use in Web3 privacy make it valuable over the long term. But because its market cap is only $160 million, investors should expect more volatility than they would with a larger-cap project.

Legal and Regulatory Consideration 2025

Horizen offers optional privacy, which helps it avoid regulatory red flags tied to anonymous transactions. This approach may offer regulatory resilience compared to fully private cryptocurrencies like Monero, which have faced exchange delistings in some regions.

The project also adheres to U.S. investment guidelines, with ZEN available through Grayscale's Horizen Trust—offering indirect access to institutional investors while complying with securities laws.

How to Buy and Trade Horizen

ZEN is available on major centralized exchanges:

• Coinbase: Supports users in 100+ countries. Simple KYC process and USD deposits.
• KuCoin: Known for early token listings. No KYC required in most regions.
• Binance: High liquidity but not available in the U.S. or Canada.

Steps to Buy ZEN:

1. Create an account on a supported exchange (Coinbase, KuCoin, or Binance).
2. Complete identity verification (if required).
3. Deposit fiat currency or cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, USDT).
4. Search for ZEN and place a buy order.
5. Withdraw your ZEN to a personal wallet for security.

Horizen Wallets and Security

ZEN can be stored using several wallet options:

• Sphere by Horizen (Official Desktop Wallet): Easy to use and supports staking.
• Ledger Hardware Wallet: Best for long-term storage and offline security.
• MetaMask: Web wallet with sidechain support for ZEN-compatible tokens.

All wallets support private key ownership, ensuring users retain full control over their holdings.

How to Secure Your Horizen Holdings

To protect your ZEN:

• Use a hardware wallet (like Ledger) for large holdings.
• Enable 2FA on exchange and wallet accounts.
• Regularly update software to patch vulnerabilities.
• Keep a secure backup of your wallet seed phrase offline.
• Avoid interacting with unknown smart contracts or links.

Horizen Adoption and Use Cases

Horizen’s modular design is ideal for:

• Privacy-focused financial applications
• Interoperable DeFi protocols
• Supply chain transparency tools
• Enterprise blockchain solutions

The network is already gaining traction through zkApps, privacy-centric dApps that don’t compromise security. Horizen is also being integrated into Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2, which can amplify zkApp adoption.

Horizen's Future Outlook & Growth Potential

Horizen has built the foundation for a scalable, interconnected blockchain ecosystem. With support for 10,000 sidechains, zero-knowledge privacy, and institutional accessibility, it is well-positioned for Web3 adoption.

Ongoing development of the Zendoo SDKs, integration into Layer 2s like Base, and increasing social media sentiment (68.69% bullish on X) indicate growing community interest. While price remains below its historical highs, the network’s fundamentals suggest long-term growth potential.

Pros and Cons of Investing in Horizen

Pros:

• Scalable architecture with sidechain interoperability
• Optional privacy features for flexibility and compliance
• Large node network for decentralization
• Institutional access via Grayscale Trust
  

Cons:

• Price volatility and lower liquidity compared to top-20 coins
• Still relatively underused compared to Ethereum or Solana
• High competition in the zk and L2 space

Final Thoughts

Horizen brings together privacy, scalability and interoperability in one place. Thanks to Zendoo, a growing number of sidechains and more interest from major players, Horizen is set to be a key part of the future of decentralized applications. Even though its price is not yet back to its past peaks, the strong technical background and future plans make it attractive for both developers and investors.