ZEN is the native token of the Horizen protocol, which seeks to provide a Proof-of-Work cryptocurrency that comes with a Proof-of-Stake sidechain platform. This is designed so that developers get the chance to get fully customised decentralised applications. A Bitcoin-like blockchain is at the heart of the system, with Equihash Proof-of-Work using a delayed block penalty mechanism for additional security. The sidechain software development kit comprises a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, a suite of developer tools, and a user interface that abstracts away the intricacies of blockchain design, deployment, and maintenance. It's designed to meet specific developer needs and solve a wide range of real-world problems. The cross-chain Transfer Protocol enables a decoupled sidechain network that is unaffected by consensus, programming language, or any other sidechain architectural element. In the Horizen ecosystem, ZEN is utilised for staking and as a gas fee.