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About Horizen
- Horizen is a zero-knowledge-enabled network of blockchains powered by the largest node infrastructure in the industry.
- ZEN is the governance and utility token for Horizen.
- The Zendoo protocol enables blockchain interoperability, allowing for complete flexibility in sidechain type, consensus, and speed.
- The network currently supports up to 10,000 sidechains with a throughput limit of 10,000,000 TPS.
Founders
- Dr. Rob Viglione: Co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, co-founder and team lead of the Zen Blockchain Foundation.
- Rolf Versl
About Horizen: Empowering a Decentralized Future
Introducing Horizen (ZEN): A Revolutionary Blockchain Ecosystem
ZEN is the governance and utility token for Horizen, a pioneering zero-knowledge-enabled network of blockchains, bolstered by the largest node infrastructure in the industry. The Zendoo protocol, leveraging SNARK-verification, facilitates seamless blockchain interoperability, allowing for unparalleled flexibility in sidechain type, consensus, and speed. By harnessing the power of cryptographic verification across networked chains, the platform achieves massive scalability, currently supporting up to 10,000 sidechains with a throughput capacity of 10,000,000 transactions per second (TPS).
Zendoo empowers Horizen to become a permissionless network of blockchains, allowing developers to seamlessly deploy their own blockchains within the ecosystem via a diverse range of SDKs. In 2023, the ecosystem team successfully launched Horizen EON, a public proof-of-stake sidechain and EVM-compatible smart contracting platform. This innovative solution enables developers to efficiently build and deploy decentralized applications (dapps) on the Horizen ecosystem, while leveraging the vast resources of the Ethereum ecosystem. Since its inception, prominent DeFi projects such as SpookySwap, Ascent Exchange, and Yuzu have successfully integrated into the Horizen ecosystem. Take the first step in unlocking the potential of Horizen EON today!
Horizen’s native cryptocurrency, ZEN, is a mineable proof-of-work (PoW) coin that is currently listed on prominent exchanges, including Coinbase and Binance. By staking ZEN, users can participate in Horizen’s vast network of nearly 50,000 full nodes.
Notably, ZEN, formerly a privacy-centric token, underwent a significant transformation following the implementation of ZenIP 42204 in June 2023, as the network deliberately relinquished its existing privacy features to pave the way for a more adaptable and responsibly scalable growth trajectory.
The Visionaries Behind Horizen: Meet the Founders
Dr. Rob Viglione, a visionary entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, as well as the co-founder and team lead of the Zen Blockchain Foundation. Holding a Ph.D. in Finance, an MBA in Finance and Marketing, and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics & Applied Mathematics, Rob brings a unique blend of academic rigor and industry expertise to the table. Notably, he has served as an advisor to some of the most groundbreaking blockchain projects globally, including Aave, and has a distinguished background as a scientist in the space industry.
Co-Founder Rolf Versluis, a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record in the IT sector, is also the proprietor of a mid-sized mining operation. His diverse professional background includes stints at Cisco Systems, the semiconductor industry, and a distinguished tenure as a nuclear-trained officer in the US Submarine force.
Jane Lippencott, a pioneering figure in the cryptocurrency space, was a member of the founding team and co-author of the seminal whitepaper. Currently, she serves as a partner at a16z Crypto, the digital asset arm of the esteemed venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Prior to this, she held the position of associate at Winklevoss Capital. Jane’s impressive portfolio of affiliations includes being a 2021 VC Cohort at All Rise, an advisor at Teller Finance, and a mentor at the Open Web Collective, as well as Celo and Katapult Accelerator. She is also a contributor at Nakamoto.com. Her extensive mentorship experience spans across various organizations, including the Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition (BSIC), dLab, Ethereum Classic Labs, and Techstars. Additionally, she has served as an advisor at Unbounded Capital and was a member of the Board at Cord.
Unveiling the Unparalleled Characteristics of Horizen
Horizen is renowned for its proficiency in zero-knowledge-based blockchain technology, having made significant strides in the cryptography realm. Notably, the Horizen team has pioneered the development of cutting-edge solutions, including the launch of Zendoo, one of the pioneering zero-knowledge-based scalability solutions.
Their blockchain network boasts a distinctive sidechain solution, empowering developers to create their own scalable blockchains capable of processing tens of thousands of transactions per second while maintaining genuine decentralization across a vast network of nodes. Furthermore, Horizen features Zendoo, a sophisticated sidechain system that facilitates the deployment of thousands of independent sidechains, seamlessly interacting with the mainchain and each other. The Horizen ecosystem has been significantly expanded with the introduction of Horizen EON, a cutting-edge, EVM-compatible smart contracting platform, boasting numerous integrations in the DeFi, RWA, and NFT realms.
Blockchain transactions are validated by a network of nodes, necessitating substantial computational power. Consequently, most blockchain networks impose a limit on the number of transactions they can process concurrently. In contrast, Horizen’s developers can operate over 10,000 independent blockchains simultaneously, handling up to 10 million transactions per second across all sidechains, with an average throughput of 1,000 transactions per second per chain. This remarkable capability is largely attributed to Horizen’s node network, which is one of the largest and most decentralized in the industry, thereby enabling the network to maintain high transaction throughput while remaining fully decentralized.
Horizen boasts a decentralized architecture on a technical level, with a significant portion of its organizational framework transitioned to a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) structure. Furthermore, Horizen employs the ZenIP process, a standardized methodology for proposing and implementing substantial modifications to its code base and ecosystem.
Today, the Horizen team is dedicated to crafting a cutting-edge, scalable solution for settlement, designed to amplify modularity and pave the way for unprecedented collaboration in the Web3 ecosystem.
ZEN is the indigenous digital asset that underpins the Horizen ecosystem, serving as its native cryptocurrency.
The Circulating Supply of Horizen (ZEN) Coins: A Closer Look
Horizen boasts a capped supply of 21,000,000 coins, with a circulating supply of approximately 14,468,625 as of December 2023.
Horizen boasts one of the most expansive node networks, featuring a multi-tiered node system that provides a robust infrastructure. Node operators are incentivized with 20% of the total block subsidy, enabling a thriving ecosystem of applications and sidechains to flourish.
When it comes to mining ZEN, this cryptocurrency is uniquely suited for ASIC mining, leveraging the Equihash algorithm. The block reward distribution is allocated as follows: 60% is reserved for miners, 20% is allocated to the treasury, and the remaining 20% is designated for nodes.
The Security Architecture of the Horizen Network: A Robust Ecosystem
Horizen leverages a hybrid consensus mechanism, combining the security of Proof-of-Work on its mainchain with the efficiency of Proof-of-Stake on its sidechains. Each PoS sidechain, built atop the Horizen network, is pegged to the mainchain and operates in tandem. The mainchain serves as a ‘truth engine’ for all blockchains constructed on the network, ensuring a unified and trustworthy ecosystem.
Horizen leverages zk-SNARKs to facilitate seamless communication between sidechains and the mainchain, ensuring the mainchain remains oblivious to the sidechain’s internal logic and structure. This decoupling approach enables the mainchain to maintain its independence, thereby allowing the entire system to scale and accommodate a vast array of applications, while significantly boosting global transaction throughput.
The Horizen blockchain network leverages secure nodes, fortified with TLS encryption, to facilitate secure inter-node communication. Notably, ZEN employs the Equihash consensus algorithm, which accommodates ASIC mining and enables shielded transactions that can conceal the sender, recipient, and transaction value, ensuring a heightened level of privacy.
Associated Resources:
Unlocking Scalability: The Potential of Zero-Knowledge Technology at CMC Alexandria.
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