Tom Kushner LayerZero unveils its groundbreaking Zero chain with ARK Invest and Citadel Securities support. The new blockchain aims to process two million transactions per second and onboard institutional finance on-chain by 2026.
LayerZero unveils Zero chain with Citadel Securities and ARK Invest
LayerZero has announced the creation of Zero chain, a next generation blockchain project that promises to reshape global finance by enabling institutional scale transactions on-chain. Backed by Citadel Securities and ARK Invest, Zero is designed to handle up to two million transactions per second using zero knowledge technology and advanced virtual machine architecture. The official launch is planned for fall 2026, marking one of the most ambitious blockchain rollouts to date.
The project represents LayerZero’s bold expansion beyond its cross chain messaging protocol, aiming to merge traditional finance and decentralized technology. With the rapid entry of major institutions into digital assets, LayerZero is positioning Zero as the foundation for a scalable and secure on-chain financial system.
The technology powering Zero chain
LayerZero says Zero will overcome the bottlenecks that limit most blockchains to below ten thousand transactions per second. It will do this through a unique integration of zero knowledge proofs and the zero knowledge virtual machine Jolt, enabling unprecedented scalability without compromising security. The system will operate through three permissionless environments known as zones, each connected by the native LayerZero token.
These zones will allow seamless interoperability not only within the Zero ecosystem but also across more than 165 existing blockchains. This design could allow financial institutions and developers to build applications that interact effortlessly with other networks while maintaining institutional grade performance.
Bryan Pellegrino, the CEO of LayerZero Labs, described the Zero architecture as a breakthrough that accelerates the industry’s roadmap by a decade. He said the technology can bring the global economy on-chain, merging financial systems with blockchain infrastructure at full scale.
Citadel Securities and ARK Invest drive institutional confidence
The announcement gained significant attention due to the backing from Citadel Securities and ARK Invest, two of the most influential players in global markets. ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, is not only investing in LayerZero equity but also acquiring a stake in the ZRO token. Wood will serve on the Zero advisory board alongside Michael Blaugrund from the Intercontinental Exchange and Caroline Butler, formerly of BNY Mellon.
Citadel Securities, one of the largest market makers in the world, has also made a strategic investment, signaling strong institutional confidence in LayerZero’s long term vision. The involvement of these firms reinforces the growing trend of traditional finance aligning with blockchain innovation.
Tether’s investment arm has also confirmed participation, further broadening the base of high profile backers. With such a lineup, Zero is rapidly emerging as one of the most closely watched projects of the coming year.
Institutions explore Zero for future financial systems
Several leading organizations are already testing or exploring the potential of Zero for real world financial applications. Google Cloud is collaborating with LayerZero Labs to research how AI agents could use Zero for micropayments and trading without the need for bank accounts.
Meanwhile, Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, is studying how Zero could enhance trading and clearing infrastructure for round the clock markets. The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation is also evaluating how the network could expand its tokenization and collateral management services.
In the decentralized finance sector, the Global Token Exchange has announced that it will build the treasury layer of its Turbo platform on Zero, underscoring the growing developer interest in the ecosystem.
LayerZero eyes the next phase of on-chain finance
The unveiling of Zero chain marks a turning point in LayerZero’s evolution from a messaging protocol to a full scale blockchain ecosystem. With the support of ARK Invest, Citadel Securities, and other financial heavyweights, the company aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain through institutional grade scalability and interoperability.
If successful, Zero could become the backbone for tokenized assets, decentralized trading, and cross border payments operating entirely on-chain. By combining zero knowledge technology with institutional partnerships, LayerZero is setting a new benchmark for blockchain performance and credibility.
As the 2026 launch approaches, Zero chain stands as a symbol of how rapidly finance and blockchain are converging. Its mission to onboard the global economy on-chain may soon become a defining chapter in the next era of decentralized infrastructure.
Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards.
