LayerZero said it is building a new blockchain called Zero, a network aimed at institutional users rather than retail-driven Layer 1 competition. The project has backing from Citadel Securities, while Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and DTCC are working with the initiative. Cathie Wood has joined its advisory board. The launch is scheduled for fall 2026.
Built around institutional trading and tokenization needs
According to the report, Zero is being positioned as infrastructure for Wall Street-facing use cases. DTCC plans to explore how the architecture could strengthen its tokenization services. ICE is evaluating whether Zero can support 24/7 trading and the integration of tokenized collateral. Google Cloud is also working with LayerZero on real-time micropayment mechanisms for AI agents.
LayerZero claims throughput of 2 million transactions per second
The network is built on what LayerZero describes as a heterogeneous architecture. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to separate transaction execution from verification. LayerZero claims this setup can reach 2 million transactions per second, with a cost of less than one-millionth of a dollar per transaction. The company said that would make Zero roughly 100,000 times faster than Ethereum and 500 times faster than Solana. Those figures will face scrutiny once the chain goes live.
Three initial zones planned, with ZRO used for staking and governance
Zero is set to launch with three initial zones: a general-purpose EVM-compatible environment, a privacy-focused payments zone, and a dedicated zone for cross-asset-class trading. The modular design is meant to let different institutions choose an environment that fits their needs while still using LayerZero’s cross-chain interoperability.
The network will use the ZRO token for governance and staking. Following the announcement, ZRO rose more than 15% over the past 24 hours. The structure of the project, its partners and its intended use cases all point to a blockchain designed first for institutional priorities.