Citadel And Ark Back LayerZero As It Unveils Zero Blockchain Network

TLDR

Table of Contents

Citadel and Ark Invest acquired LayerZero’s ZRO token as part of a strategic investment.
LayerZero’s Zero blockchain claims speeds of 2 million transactions per second.
Google Cloud is working with LayerZero to support scalable blockchain infrastructure.
DTCC is exploring how Zero can improve settlement speed and cross-chain asset security.

Citadel Securities and Ark Invest have made strategic moves in the blockchain space by backing LayerZero, a company launching a new Layer 1 blockchain called Zero. In addition to investment, the firm also secured key partnerships with Google Cloud and DTCC, aiming to advance blockchain performance and interoperability in global finance.

Citadel and Ark Invest Support LayerZero’s Blockchain Launch

Citadel Securities and Ark Invest have invested in LayerZero as it launches a new Layer 1 blockchain named Zero. The firms also purchased the blockchain’s native token, ZRO. Citadel’s involvement marks a rare direct token purchase by the trading firm.

A spokesperson from Citadel said the collaboration will help assess how LayerZero’s blockchain can support trading and settlement processes. “Citadel Securities is collaborating with LayerZero to provide market structure expertise,” the firm said in a statement.

BREAKING: CITADEL AND ARK INVEST BACK LAYERZERO AS IT LAUNCHES BLOCKCHAIN, PARTNERS WITH GOOGLE CLOUD AND DTCC – THE BLOCK
SOURCE: https://t.co/g14fqRQ9hb pic.twitter.com/PTkn9X7wF7
— DEGEN NEWS (@DegenerateNews) February 10, 2026

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, also acquired equity in LayerZero in addition to ZRO tokens. “This is a historic opportunity at the intersection of finance and the internet,” Wood said.

LayerZero has been known for building cross-chain protocols. The Zero blockchain is positioned to be scalable and interoperable, focusing on high-speed and low-latency performance.

Google Cloud Partnership for Blockchain Infrastructure

LayerZero has partnered with Google Cloud as part of the Zero blockchain launch. The partnership focuses on strengthening the blockchain’s technical foundation.

Richard Widmann, Google Cloud’s Head of Web3 Strategy, said that AI agents and digital value systems need infrastructure as dependable as cloud services. “LayerZero is rethinking how blockchains work from the ground up,” Widmann stated.

The goal of the collaboration is to extend internet capabilities to include reliable value exchange. The blockchain’s infrastructure will rely on Google Cloud’s technology for performance, scalability, and global accessibility.

DTCC Collaboration Aims at Speed and Security

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) also entered a partnership with LayerZero. The financial infrastructure firm is exploring how the Zero blockchain could support tokenization efforts and secure transactions.

DTCC President and CEO Frank La Salla said the blockchain’s speed and scalability could support broader adoption of digital assets. The firm is focused on improving how assets like stocks and ETFs are processed using blockchain technology.

Intercontinental Exchange, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, also plans to study how Zero could support around-the-clock trading systems. This move reflects a growing interest in using blockchain for modernizing financial systems.

LayerZero’s Zero Chain Promises High Throughput

LayerZero stated that its Zero blockchain can process up to 2 million transactions per second. This speed is around 100,000 times greater than Ethereum and 500 times faster than Solana.

The blockchain uses a heterogeneous architecture to achieve its performance. It also aims to support cross-chain applications and enterprise-grade workflows.

Tether also made a strategic investment in LayerZero Labs to support the new chain and its role in connecting blockchains. The investment adds to the momentum behind Zero as it enters a competitive blockchain space.