Latest Horizen (ZEN) News Update

Deep Dive

1. ZENDEX Launch (29 September 2025)

Overview:
Horizen surged 12% to $7.08 after launching ZENDEX, a decentralized exchange using zk-SNARKs for shielded trades. The platform offers sub-$0.01 fees, cross-chain liquidity via Ethereum/Polygon bridges, and sub-second transaction finality. This follows Horizen’s July 2025 migration to Coinbase’s Base network, which improved DeFi accessibility.

What this means:
The launch strengthens Horizen’s position in privacy-focused DeFi, addressing transparency risks in traditional platforms. However, regulatory scrutiny of privacy coins remains a headwind. Technical indicators (bullish MACD crossover, RSI at 65) suggest upside potential, but ZEN’s 57% weekly gain risks short-term profit-taking.

(CoinJournal)

2. Staking Program Proposal (30 September 2025)

Overview:
Horizen Foundation announced plans to operate validator nodes via @ZKVProtocol, pending DAO approval. A new staking program would distribute yields from $VFY token emissions, potentially attracting long-term holders.

What this means:
Staking could reduce circulating supply and stabilize prices, aligning with Horizen’s post-migration focus on utility. The DAO-led structure enhances decentralization but introduces execution risk if voter turnout lags.

(Horizen)

Conclusion

Horizen’s ZENDEX and staking proposal reflect a strategic pivot toward privacy-enabled DeFi and tokenholder incentives. While technical upgrades and yield opportunities dominate the narrative, regulatory ambiguity lingers. Will Base’s institutional backing help ZEN navigate compliance challenges as privacy tech evolves?

Deep Dive

1. @horizenglobal: Base Migration Completes – Bullish

"ZEN is now live on Aerodrome (ZEN/ETH, ZEN/cbBTC) and Uniswap with $111M+ 24h volume"
– @horizenglobal (183K followers · 2.1M impressions · 2025-07-22 17:00 UTC)
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What this means: The ERC-20 migration to Base improves ZEN’s DeFi integration, with major exchanges like Coinbase and Grayscale (SEC filing) automating swaps. Liquidity across Base DEXs reduces slippage risks for traders.

2. @horizenglobal: DAO Treasury Strategy Vote – Bullish

"ZenIP 42411 proposes 3M ZEN treasury allocation to LP vaults – no selling, only yield farming"
– @horizenglobal (183K followers · 890K impressions · 2025-07-15 19:22 UTC)
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What this means: This could stabilize ZEN’s price by avoiding market dumps while generating protocol-owned liquidity. If passed, the DAO treasury would earn yield alongside retail LPs.

3. @MOEW_Agent: Price Surge & Technicals – Bullish

"ZEN up 57% this week! MACD bullish crossover, RSI at 68 – targeting $11 if $10.20 breaks"
– @MOEW_Agent (42K followers · 310K impressions · 2025-09-30 03:40 UTC)
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What this means: Traders are eyeing the $10.02 support level. The 24h volume spike (+119%) suggests renewed interest, though RSI nears overbought territory.

4. @Dany_Crypto1: Validator Role for ZKVProtocol – Bullish

"Horizen validating @ZKVProtocol signals long-term ZK commitment – not just hype"
– @Dany_Crypto1 (16K followers · 88K impressions · 2025-10-03 03:10 UTC)
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What this means: As a zkVerify mainnet validator, Horizen strengthens its zero-knowledge credentials, potentially attracting developers to its privacy-focused Base appchain.

Conclusion

The consensus on ZEN is bullish, driven by successful Base integration, DAO treasury strategies, technical momentum, and infrastructure bets on ZK tech. Watch the ZenIP 42411 vote outcome (results expected by late October) and whether ZEN holds above $9.80 – a key level per recent liquidation clusters. For bears, regulatory scrutiny on privacy chains remains a lingering risk.

Deep Dive

1. Wallet-Level Privacy Activation (Q4 2025)

Overview: Following its July 2025 migration to Base as an ERC-20 token, Horizen plans to activate wallet-level privacy features via a partnership with Singularity. This upgrade will enable stealth addresses for transactions on decentralized exchanges like Aerodrome and Uniswap, masking user activity while maintaining compliance (Horizen Global).

What this means: Bullish for ZEN as privacy-enhanced DeFi could attract users seeking confidential trading. However, regulatory scrutiny of privacy tools remains a risk.

2. ZEN Staking Program Launch (Q4 2025)

Overview: Subject to DAO approval, Horizen Foundation will operate validator nodes for zkVerify ($VFY) and launch a staking program. Initial yields will be funded by $VFY emissions, with governance via ZenIPs (Horizen Global).

What this means: Bullish for token utility, as staking could reduce circulating supply and align incentives. Delays in DAO voting or validator setup pose execution risks.

3. Thrive Developer Grants (2025–2030)

Overview: A five-year, 1M ZEN ($7.4M) grant program targets privacy-preserving AI, DeFi, and gaming. Funding is milestone-based, with oversight from a seven-member board (CoinMarketCap).

What this means: Neutral-to-bullish; ecosystem growth depends on developer uptake. Success metrics include 10x user growth for funded projects.

4. Grayscale Support Assessment (December 2025)

Overview: Grayscale’s Horizen Trust (OTC: HZEN) migrated assets to Base and will decide by year-end whether to continue support based on adoption metrics like liquidity and institutional demand (The Block).

What this means: Bearish if institutional interest lags, but renewed backing could validate Horizen’s Layer 3 strategy.

Conclusion

Horizen’s post-migration roadmap prioritizes privacy infrastructure and ecosystem incentives, balancing technical upgrades with community governance. The Q4 2025 privacy rollout and staking launch are critical short-term catalysts, while long-term success hinges on developer traction and institutional validation. How will regulatory shifts impact the demand for privacy-centric DeFi?

Deep Dive

1. Mainnet Migration to Base (24 July 2025)

Overview: Horizen migrated its native ZEN token from its UTXO blockchain to Base as an ERC-20 asset, discontinuing its legacy mainchain and EON sidechain. This enabled integration with Base DEXs like Aerodrome and Uniswap.

Technical details:
- Layer 3 architecture: Built atop Base for EVM compatibility and wallet-level privacy via Singularity integration.
- Tokenomics: Circulating supply increased to 17.25M ZEN (from 16M), with 750K allocated to the DAO and 500K to the Foundation. Max supply remains 21M.
- Governance: ZenIP 42405 passed, formalizing DAO-led treasury management and a 5-year developer grant program.

What this means: This is bullish for ZEN because it unlocks DeFi liquidity, reduces transaction fees by ~90% compared to legacy chains, and positions Horizen as a privacy hub on Base. (Source)

2. Node Upgrade ZEN 5.0.7 (15 July 2025)

Overview: Final mandatory upgrade for nodes before migration, ensuring compatibility with Base transition.

Technical details:
- Deprecated ZEN 5.0.6: Nodes had to upgrade before 11 June 2025 block #1,783,180.
- No hard fork: Backward-compatible update focused on sunsetting legacy chain operations.

What this means: Neutral for ZEN – critical maintenance to phase out outdated infrastructure, but no new features added. Node operators faced a hard deadline to avoid service disruption. (Source)

3. Security Audits by Halborn/Cantina (July 2025)

Overview: Independent audits of migration smart contracts and claim tools found no critical vulnerabilities.

Technical details:
- Scope: Covered token migration logic, user claim workflows, and cross-chain bridge security.
- Key finding: Low-risk issues (e.g., gas optimizations) addressed pre-launch.

What this means: Bullish for ZEN because it reduces migration scam risks and builds trust in Horizen’s technical rigor. (Source)

Conclusion

Horizen’s codebase updates reflect a strategic pivot to Base-driven DeFi, prioritizing liquidity, developer adoption, and audit-backed security. While the migration introduces short-term complexity for legacy users, it positions ZEN for long-term growth in privacy-enabled applications. How quickly will developers leverage the new Layer 3 architecture to build differentiated privacy tools?