Horizen’s ZEN Token Migrates to Base—Unleashing Privacy-Powered Appchain Revolution
Horizen just flipped the script on privacy infrastructure—its native ZEN token is now live on Base, setting the stage for a game-changing appchain launch.
Why it matters: This isn't just another bridge. By porting ZEN to Coinbase's Ethereum L2, Horizen's positioning its privacy stack where the masses (and regulators) can't ignore it. The move screams 'mainstream or bust.'
The mechanics: The migration enables developers to build dApps with baked-in privacy—a rare commodity in today's 'compliance-first' chains. No more bolt-on mixers or regulatory side-eye.
The cynical take: Wall Street will pretend to hate the privacy features while quietly testing how to monetize them. Watch the usual suspects file patents within 6 months.
Bottom line: If Base becomes the privacy chain that 'plays nice' with regulators, ZEN could moon on institutional hypocrisy alone.
ZEN powers Horizen 2.0 on Base
Horizen 2.0 introduces a privacy-first LAYER 3 architecture built on Base. Users can now claim their ERC-20 ZEN and participate in new DeFi strategies. Wallet-level privacy features will be activated in the coming days through a partnership with Singularity, allowing stealth-enabled trades inside standard wallets.
The updated circulating supply stands at 17.25 million ZEN, up from 16 million before migration. Of the added tokens, 750,000 went to the Horizen DAO and 500,000 to the Horizen Foundation. The max supply remains 21 million.
ZEN launched with trading pairs across Aerodrome (ZEN/WETH, ZEN/cbBTC) and Uniswap (ZEN/USDC), with vault-based yield strategies set to follow. These include liquidity vaults and single-sided staking options designed to support the ZEN ecosystem and capture AERO emissions.
Governance, compliance, and institutional support
The migration was approved by Horizen’s DAO under ZenIP 42405 with near-unanimous support. The DAO will oversee treasury operations and a five-year developer grant program distributing up to 1 million ZEN.
The token swap was supported by Coinbase and Bybit, which automatically switched user holdings to the new ERC-20 version. Halborn and Cantina’s security audits revealed no serious problems with the claim tools or migration contracts.
Horizen Labs previously raised $11 million across 2019–2021 from investors including DCG and Kenetic Capital. Grayscale’s Horizen Trust (OTC:HZEN) also migrated its assets to Base. The trust will evaluate continued support based on adoption levels by December 2025.
ZEN was trading at $8.28 on July 24, down 13% on the day, with a market cap of $137.3 million.
