LayerZero Unveils ATLAS Trading Engine as ZRO Surges

LayerZero built its business as a blockchain interoperability protocol, with its Omnichain Fungible Token standard facilitating more than $290 billion in volume across over 160 networks. As stablecoins and tokenized assets move toward round-the-clock markets, the company introduced the Zero blockchain on Feb. 10. Citadel Securities made a strategic investment in ZRO, while DTCC and Intercontinental Exchange, or ICE, began exploring institutional uses for the network.

LayerZero unveiled ATLAS on Aug. 25, combining trade matching, clearing, settlement and risk management in a headless backend for crypto-native and institutional venues. Tests showed sub-millisecond median latency and 2.641-millisecond p99 latency, with initial capacity planned at 200,000 transactions per second. ZRO jumped more than 30% from about $1 after the announcement. Under the fee model, venues receive rebates of 20% to 65%, while 75% of remaining fees after rebates and market-creator payments will fund ZRO buybacks and burns.