Horizen Scraps Privacy Coin Moniker Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
Horizen says it's now simply a layer 0 blockchain after depreciating the shielded pools on its main chain.
Jun 28, 2023 at 11:25 a.m. UTCHorizen, a self-described layer 0 blockchain, has scrapped its privacy coin label following global regulatory scrutiny.
The decision comes after pressure from regulators on privacy coins. Crypto exchange Huobi delisted several privacy coins in September in order to comply with regulations in various jurisdictions, and the European Banking Authority publishing draft guidance in March that highlighted the anti-money laundering risk associated with the tokens.
"Zen will no longer be considered a privacy coin after the deprecation of the mainchain shielded pools," Horizen wrote on Twitter. "We are actively working with our exchange partners to keep ZEN accessible for our global users."
The token is currently trading at $7.09 after making a slight move to the upside as its trading pairs struggled to maintain liquidity on Binance and Coinbase, according to CoinMarketCap.
Horizen is backed by crypto hedge fund Grayscale's Horizen Trust, which is worth around $4.3 million, according to CoinGlass. Grayscale is a sister company to CoinDesk, both owned by Digital Currency Group.
DISCLOSURE
Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.
:format(webp)/www.coindesk.com/resizer/fczAGHsWLFXiMV23oZZmkW19Ots=/arc-photo-coindesk/arc2-prod/public/D4HEG34XFVFVJHPXEEJAEFZ3SI.jpg)
Oliver Knight is a CoinDesk reporter based between London and Lisbon. He does not own any crypto.
Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.