Focusing on the LayerZero core ecosystem: In-depth analysis of ZRO token potential and market trends ahead of Zero Chain launch

Recently, the cross-chain interoperability protocol LayerZero’s developer, LayerZero Labs, announced a major plan: launching its proprietary Layer 1 blockchain network, “Zero,” in fall 2026. Even more notably, the project has received joint support from traditional financial giant Citadel Securities and well-known investment firm ARK Invest. This news not only injects confidence into the LayerZero ecosystem but also marks an unprecedented level of institutional capital involvement in building the next-generation blockchain infrastructure. This article will delve into Zero Chain’s technological vision, institutional strategy, and analyze the market dynamics of its native token ZRO, based on the latest data from Gate.

Zero Chain: A Technological Breakthrough Targeting Financial Markets

According to official announcements, Zero Chain is not just another public blockchain. Its design aims directly at addressing the core bottlenecks of current blockchain applications in large-scale financial scenarios—scalability and transaction costs.

• Extreme Performance: LayerZero Labs claims that by integrating zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) and the new zero-knowledge virtual machine Jolt, Zero Chain could achieve an ultra-high throughput of 2 million transactions per second. This figure aims to surpass the typical “less than 10,000 transactions per second” limit of mainstream blockchain networks, providing a technical foundation for high-frequency, large-scale financial transactions on-chain.
• Unique Architecture: At launch, Zero Chain will feature three permissionless, independent environments called “zones.” These zones will be managed by the underlying network, with LayerZero’s native token and governance asset ZRO serving as the core to ensure seamless interoperability between zones and with over 165 external blockchains connected to Zero Chain and LayerZero. LayerZero Labs CEO Bryan Pellegrino stated that this architecture “advances the industry blueprint by at least ten years,” aiming to promote “a fully on-chain global economy.”

Industry Giants: Strategic Involvement of ARK Invest, Citadel Securities, and Tether

The launch of Zero Chain is backed by a formidable lineup of capital and strategic support, highlighting the shared optimism of traditional finance and crypto-native forces for this track.

• ARK Invest is both a shareholder of LayerZero Labs and a holder of ZRO tokens. Its CEO, Cathie Wood, known as “Woodie,” will also join the newly formed Zero Chain advisory board.
• Citadel Securities, a leading global market maker, has made a strategic investment in ZRO tokens, indicating deep involvement in future on-chain financial market liquidity.
• Additionally, Tether’s investment arm announced a strategic investment in LayerZero Labs.
• Other members of the advisory board include representatives from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), parent company of NYSE, and former executives from BNY Mellon, further reinforcing its roots in bridging traditional finance.

This top-tier institutional endorsement not only provides funding and credibility but also opens doors to real-world assets (RWA) and enterprise-grade applications. For example, the announcement mentions ICE exploring infrastructure built on Zero Chain to support 24/7 trading and tokenized collateral, while the US Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is also interested in its scalability potential.

ZRO Token Market Performance and Gate Data Analysis

As the core asset of Zero Chain and the entire LayerZero ecosystem, ZRO’s market performance has attracted significant attention. As of February 11, 2026, according to Gate data, its latest stats are as follows:

• Real-time Price: ZRO is currently trading at $2.30, up 19.46% in the past 24 hours, with a market sentiment of “bullish.”
• Trading Volume: 24-hour trading volume is approximately $13.87 million, indicating good market liquidity.
• Market Cap Overview: Circulating market cap is about $467.87 million, with a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $2.3 billion. Circulating supply is approximately 202.6 million ZRO, about 20.26% of the total supply of 1 billion.
• Price Fluctuations: Over the past 7 and 30 days, ZRO has gained +26.81% and +56.69%, respectively, reflecting positive market reactions to recent LayerZero news. Its all-time high was $7.55, with a 24-hour low of $1.61.

Gate’s forecast for ZRO’s future price suggests an average around $2.31 in 2026, with a range between $1.36 and $2.98. Looking further to 2031, the price could challenge $5.21, though this path depends on factors such as Zero Chain’s development progress, mainnet launch performance, overall crypto market conditions, and institutional adoption at scale. Investors should conduct independent research and be mindful of market risks when trading on Gate.

Summary and Outlook

LayerZero’s launch of Zero Chain, backed by top-tier institutions, marks a significant step in the evolution of blockchain technology toward high performance and institutional integration. It aims to address the performance bottlenecks hindering large-scale adoption in traditional finance and has already attracted key players’ attention. Although Zero Chain will only go live in fall 2026, its envisioned future has already injected new narrative momentum into the LayerZero ecosystem and its token ZRO.

For users interested in public chains and innovative interoperability solutions, Zero Chain’s progress warrants ongoing attention. Gate will continue to provide secure trading and real-time data for ZRO and other cutting-edge crypto assets. Before participating, please base your decisions on the latest data and information provided by Gate, and consider your own risk tolerance carefully.