On May 27, 2025, Horizen released ZEN 5.0.7, the latest version of its node software for Mainnet. NOWNodes has already completed the upgrade across all Horizen nodes, ensuring a fully compliant, stable, and production-ready environment for developers building on the Horizen network.
In parallel with this update, Horizen announced a significant shift in its roadmap: the network is migrating to Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2, where Horizen will operate as a privacy-optimized appchain.
Key Technical Updates in Horizen 5.0.7
- Mandatory upgrade for all Mainnet nodes
- No hard fork included, but the previous version will expire at the announced deprecation height
- macOS binaries are no longer distributed (manual compilation is required)
- Windows binaries are now unsigned (command-line instructions are included)
- Debian dependencies:
libc6 (>= 2.29), libgcc-s1 (>= 4.2), libgomp1 (>= 4.9), libstdc++6 (>= 9)
In other words, ZEN 5.0.7 is available through GitHub. All NOWNodes infrastructure is already upgraded and tested in a live production environment.
Horizen Migrates to Base: A Strategic Evolution
As part of a broader strategic shift, ZEN is transitioning to Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 powered by the Optimism OP Stack. Moreover, this move positions ZEN as an application-specific Layer 3 chain (appchain) built to deliver scalable, privacy-centric infrastructure with native EVM compatibility.
Why This Matters for Developers
- Massive Scalability: Sub-second finality and ultra-low transaction fees
- EVM Compatibility: Seamless integration with Ethereum-based tooling and smart contracts
- Coinbase-Backed Trust: Institutional-grade infrastructure and compliance readiness
- Privacy at Scale: Optimized support for ZK-based privacy applications
- Interoperability and Liquidity: Built-in access to Base’s DeFi and appchain ecosystem
- Developer Efficiency: No need to maintain a custom Layer 1; Base handles the stack
- Future-Proof Architecture: Horizen becomes part of the Ethereum Superchain, benefiting from shared security and liquidity
To sum up, ZEN’s mission remains unchanged. This transition is about leveraging a more advanced and developer-friendly architecture to expand adoption, improve UX, and accelerate product development.
Build on Horizen Instantly with NOWNodes
At NOWNodes, we provide instant API access to Horizen Mainnet and Explorer, fully upgraded to ZEN 5.0.7. Therefore, we designed our infrastructure for developers, teams, and enterprises that require high-availability endpoints without the operational burden of running and maintaining full nodes. Just sign up and get your free API key!
Looking Ahead
In conclusion, ZEN 5.0.7 is not just a technical update – it marks the beginning of a new phase for the Horizen ecosystem. n this case, the decision to migrate to Base enables Horizen to scale more effectively, integrate seamlessly with DeFi and the EVM, and support next-generation privacy applications in a modular, efficient way.
At NOWNodes, we are committed to delivering the infrastructure developers need to stay ahead. With ZEN nodes fully updated and Base migration on the horizon, now is the right time to build. In other words, for developers building on Horizen, the next chapter starts now.
