With Horizen 2.0’s testnet launch date nearing, it’s time to start thinking about what unique and potentially viral use cases we should target to anchor the ecosystem.
The best ideas would both showcase what’s special about Horizen 2.0 with something that people absolutely love and obsess over.
One example from the recent ApeChain launch that Horizen Labs worked on was Top Trader. It’s a crazy fun “skills-based wagering” game with massive leverage that went viral. ApeChain is about gaming and “aping” into an outlandishly fun game like that just resonated extremely well.
Horizen 2.0 (soon we’ll just be calling it “Horizen” once we upgrade) is all about ZK and smart contracting. Here’s a sample vision statement I use to clarify what we’re doing:
“At Horizen, we believe privacy and security are essential to building a trusted, interconnected world. By empowering builders with flexible privacy and proof-driven trust through cutting edge zero knowledge technology, Horizen is where secure and innovative decentralized applications thrive.”
So what kinds of things should we focus on right now to attract into Horizen 2.0 for our launch? Of course we’ll have all the usual stuff an EVM will have, including everything you see on EON today, so this isn’t an exercise in the usual suspects. I want to know the potentially insanely viral stuff that you’ll only find on Horizen 2.0.
Here’s a quick list to start the conversation:
1. Privacy-First Social Trading Platform
- Why: Social trading is incredibly engaging, and adding privacy gives Horizen a differentiator by allowing users to follow top traders without fully revealing their positions or strategies.
- Example: Users can follow and mimic the trades of “Top Traders” anonymously. Each trade can be verified on-chain without revealing sensitive information about the user’s total holdings. This aligns well with Horizen’s privacy and security ethos.
2. ZK-Enhanced Prediction Markets
- Why: Prediction markets are popular, especially when users can engage in bets without exposing their identities.
- Example: A Horizen-exclusive prediction market where users make anonymous bets on sports, events, or even crypto prices. ZK proofs can validate bets and payouts while keeping identities private, making it a secure and trust-enhancing use case.
3. Gamified Financial Literacy Platform with Trading Simulation
- Why: “Top Trader” resonates because it combines trading with competition and learning, appealing to both new and experienced users.
- Example: A gamified trading simulation app where users can test strategies with real market data but in a sandboxed environment. ZK proofs could verify the authenticity of trades without involving real assets, creating a secure, educational space. This could be especially attractive as a Horizen-exclusive tool, appealing to novice traders wanting to learn privately.
4. NFT Marketplace with Privacy-Preserved Bidding
- Why: An NFT marketplace can draw a range of users, and a privacy-enhanced twist could add intrigue and exclusivity.
- Example: A Horizen-based NFT marketplace where users bid anonymously, with ZK proofs ensuring fair bidding without exposing identities or bid amounts. Limited-edition NFTs tied to Horizen’s mission could create exclusivity and drive both engagement and brand loyalty.
5. Social Competition Platform with Privacy-Enhanced Leaderboards
- Why: A competition-driven app fits well as an anchor and can engage users across various categories.
- Example: A social competition app where users can compete in trading, gaming, or other skills with anonymized, ZK-verified leaderboards. This way, “Top Traders” and other high-performers are highlighted without revealing their full identities or strategies, building intrigue while maintaining trust.
What else can we come up with?