LayerZero is taking a big step toward institutional adoption with the launch of its new “Zero” blockchain, and the list of backers is turning heads. Citadel Securities, ARK Invest, and Tether have all stepped in with strategic investments, signaling that major financial players are increasingly interested in blockchain-based trading, settlement, and collateral systems.
The project is being positioned as infrastructure for real financial markets, not just crypto-native activity. With partners like DTCC, ICE, and Google Cloud exploring use cases, the focus appears to be on high-throughput trading, tokenized collateral, and even AI-driven micropayments.
It’s another sign that traditional finance isn’t just experimenting with blockchain anymore. Institutions are starting to place real bets on the technology as performance improves and regulatory clarity advances.