# Horizen RPC and Chain settings - By Denis Perepelitsyn - July 23, 2026 - [Web3 Infrastructure & RPC](/blog/?category=Web3%20Infrastructure%20%26%20RPC) ![Horizen RPC and Chain settings](/img/blog/post113.png) With managed [Horizen EON RPC ](https://crypto-chief.com/rpc/horizen-eon/)endpoints, Crypto-Chief enables seamless blockchain integration through resilient, high-throughput infrastructure that eliminates the complexity of node provisioning, synchronization, monitoring, and maintenance. ## Table of Contents - [What Is Horizen?](#what-is-horizen) - [Key Takeaways](#key-takeaways) - [How Horizen Enables Compliant Privacy](#how-horizen-enables-compliant-privacy) - [Horizen Architecture and Confidential Computing](#horizen-architecture-and-confidential-computing) - [Developer Infrastructure and Future Privacy Technologies](#developer-infrastructure-and-future-privacy-technologies) - [Advantages of Horizen Technology](#advantages-of-horizen-technology) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) ## Key Takeaways - **Horizen is an OP Stack Layer 3 blockchain anchored to Base for settlement and data availability.** - **The protocol introduces the Horizen Confidential Compute Environment (HCCE) for confidential application execution.** - **Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) enable secure computation while keeping sensitive data encrypted.** - **A programmable compliance framework allows selective disclosure without exposing confidential information.** - **Stargate V2 provides fast cross-chain liquidity and interoperability with Base.** - **Horizen combines confidential execution with on-chain verification to support enterprise-ready privacy applications.** - **The protocol is designed to evolve toward cryptographic privacy using validity proofs, zero-knowledge systems, and Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE).** ## What Is Horizen? Public blockchains provide transparency and decentralization, but they also expose transaction history, balances, application logic, and user interactions. While this transparency strengthens auditability, it limits the adoption of blockchain technology in industries that require confidentiality, regulatory compliance, and secure data processing. Horizen is a privacy-focused Layer 3 protocol built on the OP Stack that extends Base by introducing confidential execution, encrypted data management, and programmable privacy. Rather than hiding blockchain activity completely, Horizen enables compliant privacy—a model that combines confidential computation with cryptographic verification and selective auditability. The protocol integrates several specialized technologies: - **Base-anchored Layer 3 architecture;** - **Horizen Confidential Compute Environment (HCCE);** - **Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs);** - **encrypted data management;** - **programmable compliance services;** - **cross-chain interoperability through Stargate V2.** Instead of replacing blockchain transparency, Horizen allows applications to determine which information remains confidential while preserving verifiable execution and regulatory accountability. ## How Horizen Enables Compliant Privacy ### From Public Transparency to Programmable Confidentiality Traditional public blockchains expose nearly every transaction and state transition. For applications such as financial infrastructure, digital identity, healthcare, and enterprise systems, complete transparency is often impractical. Horizen introduces compliant privacy, allowing applications to process confidential information while remaining verifiable. Instead of choosing between: - **fully public execution;** - **completely private systems;** developers can define privacy policies that determine what information may be disclosed, when disclosure is permitted, and which authorities are authorized to access encrypted records. Every authorization event is permanently recorded on-chain without revealing the confidential data itself, creating both transparency and accountability. ## Horizen Architecture and Confidential Computing ### Base-Anchored Layer 3 Architecture Horizen operates as an OP Stack Layer 3 rollup built on Base. The architecture combines three primary components: Base Settlement Layer → Horizen Chain (L3) → Horizen Confidential Compute Environment This design enables Horizen to inherit Ethereum security through Base while providing an independent confidential execution environment. Transaction data and state commitments are anchored to Base's native data availability layer, preserving interoperability with the broader Ethereum ecosystem. ### Horizen Confidential Compute Environment (HCCE) The HCCE is the protocol's confidential execution layer. Instead of executing sensitive application logic directly on-chain, applications can offload private computation into secure execution environments. The HCCE provides: - **confidential smart contract execution;** - **encrypted computation;** - **secure state management;** - **encrypted result generation;** - **attested execution verification.** Only cryptographic attestations and required metadata are anchored to the blockchain, while confidential information remains protected throughout execution. ### Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) Horizen currently relies on Trusted Execution Environments as the foundation for confidential computation. A TEE is a hardware-isolated environment that protects application code and sensitive data during execution. Within Horizen, TEEs enable: - **encrypted processing;** - **isolated application execution;** - **confidential key management;** - **hardware-backed attestation.** To improve long-term reliability, the protocol supports enclave rollover and re-attestation, allowing compromised or outdated secure enclaves to be replaced without interrupting application execution. ### Cross-Chain Infrastructure Horizen integrates Stargate V2 and LayerZero to provide interoperability with Base. Instead of relying on wrapped assets, the protocol enables fast movement of supported assets through unified liquidity infrastructure. This architecture allows privacy-preserving decentralized applications to remain fully composable with the wider Ethereum ecosystem while benefiting from confidential execution. ### Confidential Execution Workflow The execution process follows several stages: User Request → Horizen Chain → HCCE (TEE Execution) → Encrypted Results → Attestation & Settlement on Base Sensitive application logic never becomes publicly visible. Instead, the blockchain records cryptographic evidence proving that confidential execution was completed correctly. ### Authority Service and Selective Disclosure Horizen includes an Authority Service designed for regulated environments. When authorized access is required: - **encrypted records remain protected;** - **registered authorities authenticate requests;** - **access permissions are verified;** - **every disclosure event is recorded on-chain.** This model enables regulatory compliance while preserving user confidentiality through end-to-end encryption. ## Developer Infrastructure and Future Privacy Technologies ### Developer-Friendly Architecture Horizen emphasizes developer accessibility. The HCCE supports mainstream programming languages capable of generating WebAssembly, including Go and Rust. Rather than requiring developers to write complex zero-knowledge circuits, applications can be built using familiar development tools while confidential execution is handled by the protocol infrastructure. ## Advantages of Horizen Technology ### Base-Native Privacy Layer Horizen extends Base with confidential execution instead of creating an isolated blockchain ecosystem. ### Confidential Smart Contracts Applications can process encrypted information while maintaining blockchain verifiability. ### Programmable Compliance Selective disclosure enables organizations to satisfy regulatory requirements without exposing confidential user data. ### Secure Execution Trusted Execution Environments provide hardware-backed protection for sensitive computation. ### Modular Evolution The protocol is designed to adopt advanced cryptographic technologies as they become practical for production environments. _This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice._ ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What Is Horizen? Horizen is a privacy-focused Layer 3 blockchain built on Base that enables confidential computation, programmable privacy, and verifiable execution through the Horizen Confidential Compute Environment. ### What Is the Horizen Confidential Compute Environment? HCCE is a secure execution environment where applications process encrypted data using Trusted Execution Environments before publishing cryptographic attestations to the blockchain. ### Why Does Horizen Use Trusted Execution Environments? TEEs provide hardware-isolated execution for confidential workloads, allowing applications to process sensitive information securely while maintaining verifiable execution. ### How Does Horizen Maintain Compliance? The protocol combines encrypted data processing with programmable authorization and selective disclosure, enabling approved authorities to verify information without exposing confidential records. ### How Does Horizen Connect to Base? Horizen operates as an OP Stack Layer 3 rollup anchored to Base for settlement and data availability, while Stargate V2 provides fast interoperability and liquidity between the two networks. ### What Technologies Will Horizen Add in the Future? The roadmap includes validity proofs, Blind Zero-Knowledge systems, and Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) as cryptographic privacy models become performant for Web3 integration. Tags: [Horizen](/blog/?tag=Horizen) [Base](/blog/?tag=Base) [Layer 3](/blog/?tag=Layer%203) [OP Stack](/blog/?tag=OP%20Stack) [HCCE](/blog/?tag=HCCE) [Confidential Computing](/blog/?tag=Confidential%20Computing) [TEEs](/blog/?tag=TEEs) [RPC Node](/blog/?tag=RPC%20Node)