# Horizen (ZEN) — machine-readable summary

> FORTUNA SIGNAL · FORA-01 evidence dossier · Researched 2026-09-15 · https://ron-delhaye-studios.github.io/fortuna-signal-live/tokens/zen.html

## Definition
Horizen is a zero-knowledge-enabled blockchain platform whose Zendoo protocol allows customizable, zk-SNARK-verified sidechains to interoperate with the mainchain.

## What the holder owns (FORA-01 Q1)
Native coin of the Horizen zero-knowledge platform — pays fees, moves between mainchain and zk sidechains, and secures the network. Evidence: the open protocol — the token is the chain’s native unit by consensus rules; there is no issuer to claim against.

## Verification verdict
Class NATIVE (Native) — FORA-01 scale: verification, not a quality ranking.
q1 VERIFIED · q2–q5 N/A (structural — bearer-native asset)

## Plain-language utility
Native fuel of the Horizen network — pays for transactions and computation.

## Key risks & notes
The Zendoo paper is a sidechain research paper, and Horizen's strategy has evolved since (including deprecating its original mainchain approach); ZEN's role has shifted with those pivots, so historical documentation may not reflect current token mechanics. ZEN competes in a crowded privacy/L1-adjacent space and remains exposed to regulatory scrutiny of privacy-oriented chains.

## Primary source
- https://github.com/HorizenOfficial/zen

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Machine summary generated at build time from the same fields as the human page. Free educational content — not investment advice.