What Is Horizen ($ZEN )?
Launched in 2017 and stewarded by the Horizen DAO, the Horizen ecosystem is optimized for zero-knowledge use cases. The Horizen 2.0 network leverages full EVM compatibility and native integration with zkVerify, a modular solution for proof verification, which can reduce costs by 90% or more. Horizen is the first to build a specialized EVM optimized for ZK app development, bringing unprecedented efficiency and cost-effectiveness to ZK applications.
Developers of ZK dApps often encounter difficulties in writing and auditing verifier contracts, which are essential for verifying ZK proofs. The need for a more streamlined and secure solution has led to the development of Horizen 2.0, which offers built-in precompiled contracts (also known as precompiles) to handle proof verification, thus reducing development overhead and enhancing security.
Horizen 2.0 utilizes the Substrate framework to structure its node architecture into two main components: the Core Client and the WebAssembly (Wasm) runtime. This division allows for a modular and efficient design where there is a clear separation of responsibilities.
