Horizen
Horizen is a privacy-first EVM L3 blockchain on Base that combines zero-knowledge proofs and trusted execution environments to deliver regulatory-compliant onchain privacy for traders, enterprises, and Web3 developers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersGrand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Horizen does
Horizen is a privacy-first blockchain ecosystem built as an EVM L3 on OP Stack, settling to Coinbase's Base L2 and inheriting Ethereum security. The platform combines zero-knowledge proofs with Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs, running on AWS Nitro) to enable confidential onchain activity that remains cryptographically auditable for regulators — addressing the structural tension between blockchain transparency and enterprise privacy requirements. Core products include VELA (a chain-agnostic confidential compute layer for Web3 applications), Tachyon (private cross-chain transfer infrastructure using a solver network and TEEs), zkVerify (a dedicated zero-knowledge proof verification blockchain), and ZENDEX (a privacy-first DEX), alongside ecosystem applications such as Nyra (perpetuals), DarkSwap (darkpool), PolyPay (payroll), and DataHubz (AI compliance).
Horizen is governed by the Horizen DAO through the Horizen Foundation, a Cayman Islands non-profit foundation company, with a Special Council and ZEN tokenholders voting on ZenIP proposals. The ZEN token (21 million fixed maximum supply, no ICO or pre-mined allocation) serves as the governance and utility asset, with planned staking and a network fee buy-and-burn mechanism. In July 2025 the project executed a full architectural pivot, migrating ZEN to Base as an ERC-20 token, deprecating the legacy ZEND mainchain and EON chain, and launching Horizen L3 mainnet on Base — gaining access to Base's user base and Coinbase's institutional distribution.
The ecosystem operates primarily through community-led and product-led growth: developer self-serve documentation, a 1M ZEN builder funding program administered via Thrive Protocol, Discord and DAO Discourse governance forums, and partnerships across infrastructure (LayerZero, Stork, Goldsky, Den/Safe, Caldera, Aerodrome, PureFi, Singularity). Customer segments span privacy-conscious traders, compliance-constrained enterprises, Web3 developers, institutional traders, and DAO/global teams. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; headcount is reported at 1-10, consistent with a foundation-led model where most ecosystem activity is delivered by affiliated entities such as Horizen Labs and ecosystem partners rather than centralized employees.
Horizen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Horizen
- Legal name
- Horizen Foundation
- Website
- https://horizen.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Horizen is a privacy-first EVM L3 blockchain on Base that combines zero-knowledge proofs and trusted execution environments to deliver regulatory-compliant onchain privacy for traders, enterprises, and Web3 developers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Horizen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Blockchain Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing) (FSAPAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compliance, Risk & RegTech for Tokenized Assets (KYC/AML, sanctions, travel rule, reporting) (FSAPAIAH), Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI), Smart Contract & Token Operations Infrastructure (Lifecycle, Corporate Actions) (FSAGAMAH), Regulatory Reporting, Tax & Audit Trails (reconciliation, provenance) (FSAPAJAI)
Keywords
Where Horizen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Cayman
- HQ country
- Cayman Islands
Offices1 record
Markets served
Horizen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- ZEN Token Utility: ZEN is the governance and utility token powering the Horizen ecosystem. Used for application access, DeFi utility, governance participation, and network fees for buy-and-burn mechanism. Fixed maximum supply of 21 million with no ICO or pre-mined supply.
- Staking Rewards: ZEN staking program coming soon to enable token holders to participate in network security and earn rewards.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Horizen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Horizen provides a privacy-first EVM Layer 3 blockchain built on OP Stack that settles to Base, enabling regulatory-compliant private onchain applications. Its core offerings include VELA, a confidential compute layer using Trusted Execution Environments for Web3 apps; Tachyon, a private cross-chain transfer infrastructure; zkVerify, a dedicated zero-knowledge proof verification blockchain; and the ZEN governance and utility token with a fixed 21 million supply. The infrastructure targets developers building privacy-preserving dApps as well as traders and enterprises needing confidential onchain transactions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vela: Confidential Compute Layer on Horizen - a chain-agnostic confidential coprocessor using Trusted Execution Environments
- ZENDEX
- Tachyon
- zkVerify
- Zenrise
Products and services
- Horizen L3 Blockchain
- VELA (Confidential Compute Layer)
Quantifiable outcome
- $70M+ trading volume generated by ecosystem applications within first year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Horizen
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Horizen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Horizen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Thrive ProtocolcoreThrive Protocol partnered with Horizen to operationalize and maximize impact of builder ecosystem funding programs. Awarded grant for Tachyon infrastructure development - private cross-chain transfer system using solver network and TEE technology.
- Base (Coinbase)coreBase is the L2 settlement layer for Horizen L3 blockchain. Horizen rolls up to Base, inheriting Ethereum security with Base's scalability and Coinbase institutional reach.
- Horizen LabscoreFounded in 2019 to secure world's transition to web3 by building enterprise-grade blockchain technology. Offers expertise in zero-knowledge cryptography and web3 engineering while producing essential products including zkVerify and Vela.
- LayerZeromajorOmnichain messaging protocol providing secure information transfer between blockchains, integrated as part of Horizen's cross-chain infrastructure.
- StorkmajorHigh-performance oracle providing price feeds for crypto, equities, FX, commodities, and prediction market data. Pull-based oracle with sub-second latency supporting automated on-chain delivery.
- GoldskymajorWeb3's real-time data platform providing high-performance blockchain indexing, instant subgraphs, and custom data streaming pipelines for Horizen applications.
- DenmajorLeading non-custodial wallet provider for onchain teams, enterprises, and institutions. Deployed Safe multisig wallet infrastructure on Horizen.
- CalderamajorOne of the fastest growing rollup ecosystems and Rollup-as-a-Service platform empowering web3 teams to deploy blockchains on various rollup stacks and settlement layers.
- TachyoncoreDeveloping confidential, high-speed settlement channels for compliant, cross-chain payments. Tachyon private cross-chain transfer beta launched on Base and Horizen mainnet.
- AerodromemajorBase-native DEX providing liquidity and market depth for ZEN token trading. One of the primary venues for ZEN/ETH, ZEN/AERO, and other trading pairs.
- Grayscale Horizen TrustmajorGrayscale Horizen Trust enables investors to gain exposure to ZEN in security form while avoiding challenges of buying, storing, and safekeeping ZEN directly.
- zkVerifycoreBuilt by Horizen Labs, zkVerify is a high-performance, public, decentralized blockchain dedicated to zero-knowledge proof verification with modular and composable approach.
- SingularitymajorKYB/KYC permissioned institutional DeFi access layer providing access to popular protocols for onchain participants to transact with commercial confidentiality.
- PureFimajorOnchain compliance tooling brought to Horizen ecosystem, enabling regulatory compliance for DeFi applications built on the platform.
- LF Decentralized TrustmajorNon-profit organization championing open source best practices across blockchain, ledger, identity, cryptographic, and related technologies. Horizen joined as general member in April 2026.
- CoinbasecoreCoinbase is the primary exchange for ZEN trading. Horizen's migration to Base strengthens ties to Coinbase ecosystem and institutional positioning.
- BinancemajorWorld's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume offering wide range of ZEN trading pairs and global accessibility.
- DataHubzmajorAI-powered compliance intelligence and orchestration platform helping organizations achieve and maintain cybersecurity and privacy certifications. Part of Horizen ecosystem.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Horizen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aztec Network: Aztec is a privacy-focused L2/Layer on Ethereum using zero-knowledge proofs to enable private smart contracts and DeFi. Direct competitor to Horizen's privacy-first positioning, targeting the same enterprise and trader segments with ZK rather than TEE-based privacy.
- Manta Network: Manta Network is a privacy-preserving L2/EVM-compatible chain offering private DeFi and onchain identity via ZK proofs. Competes with Horizen for privacy-first dApp developers and users, with overlapping customer use cases in confidential DeFi and payroll.
- Aleo: Aleo is a Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built for private applications using zero-knowledge proofs. Competes directly with Horizen on the privacy-first smart contract developer audience, with a similar go-to-market focused on enterprise and regulated use cases.
- Oasis Network: Oasis is a privacy-enabled L1 combining EVM-compatible ParaTime with confidential compute via TEEs (similar to Horizen's VELA). Targets enterprise privacy workloads, confidential AI, and private DeFi — overlapping closely with Horizen's confidential compute and compliance narrative.
- Secret Network: Secret Network is an L1 with privacy-preserving smart contracts using TEEs to encrypt contract state. Direct peer to Horizen's VELA approach, competing for developers building confidential DeFi applications on encrypted compute.
Broad incumbents
- Optimism: Optimism is the OP Stack L2 incumbent whose framework Horizen uses as its L3 settlement layer. Broader incumbent providing the rollup infrastructure, developer tooling, and Superchain ecosystem that Horizen builds on rather than competes with directly.
- Polygon (Miden / zkEVM): Polygon operates multiple scaling and ZK solutions (Polygon zkEVM, Polygon Miden, Polygon CDK). A broad incumbent in Ethereum scaling and ZK infrastructure with overlapping developer mindshare in zero-knowledge-based chains.
- Starknet: Starknet is a major ZK-rollup L2 on Ethereum with a mature developer ecosystem and significant TVL. Competes indirectly for the same builder audience focused on ZK-based scaling and privacy-preserving applications.
Emerging players
- RAILGUN: RAILGUN is a privacy-focused DeFi protocol using ZK proofs to enable private balances and transactions on Ethereum. Emerging competitor in the privacy DeFi niche where Horizen's ecosystem dApps (ZenDex, Nyra) operate.
- Espresso Systems: Espresso Systems provides decentralized sequencing and configurable privacy infrastructure for rollups. Comparable in ambition to Horizen's confidentiality + sequencing story, addressing similar rollup and L3 builders.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Horizen social profiles
Digital presenceHorizen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Horizen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Horizen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Horizen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Horizen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Horizen
What does Horizen do?
Horizen provides a privacy-first EVM Layer 3 blockchain built on OP Stack that settles to Base, enabling regulatory-compliant private onchain applications. Its core offerings include VELA, a confidential compute layer using Trusted Execution Environments for Web3 apps; Tachyon, a private cross-chain transfer infrastructure; zkVerify, a dedicated zero-knowledge proof verification blockchain; and the ZEN governance and utility token with a fixed 21 million supply. The infrastructure targets developers building privacy-preserving dApps as well as traders and enterprises needing confidential onchain transactions.
Is Horizen a public or private company?
Horizen is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Horizen founded?
Horizen was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Horizen based?
Horizen is headquartered in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
How does Horizen make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. ZEN Token Utility is the primary driver. The others are staking Rewards.
Who are Horizen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aztec Network, Manta Network, Aleo, Oasis Network and Secret Network. Broad incumbents are Optimism, Polygon (Miden / zkEVM) and Starknet. Emerging players are RAILGUN and Espresso Systems.
Does Horizen have an API?
Yes. Horizen provides public RPC (Remote Procedure Call) endpoints for developers to interact with the Horizen L3 blockchain. Mainnet RPC: https://horizen.calderachain.xyz/http (HTTPS) and wss://horizen.calderachain.xyz/ws (WSS). Testnet RPC: https://horizen-testnet.rpc.caldera.xyz/http (HTTPS) and wss://horizen-testnet.rpc.caldera.xyz/ws (WSS). Chain ID: 26514 (mainnet), 2651420 (testnet). Additionally, the Horizen block explorer at explorer.horizen.io provides REST API and GraphQL endpoints for querying on-chain data. Stork oracle also offers a REST API for fetching price data feeds at docs.stork.network/api-reference/rest-api#get-v1-prices-latest.
What industry is Horizen in?
Horizen's product category is Blockchain Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPAAAH, Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing), with a secondary code of FSAPAIAH, Compliance, Risk & RegTech for Tokenized Assets (KYC/AML, sanctions, travel rule, reporting). Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 6200.