LayerZero, a multi-chain protocol, is set to introduce its cryptocurrency exchange named ATLAS, specifically designed for financial institutions, with a launch scheduled for fall 2026.
— LayerZero (@LayerZero_Core) August 25, 2026
The developers have stated that the platform will integrate matching, clearing, settlement, and risk management into a single technological framework, but it will not have its own user interface or application. LayerZero's team refers to this architecture as "headless."
Traders will access the platform through intermediaries who will connect to ATLAS and manage their products and distribution autonomously.
“We are creating the product and the market, and then brokers and financial institutions will provide access to it for their clients,” noted LayerZero co-founder and CEO Brian Pellegrino in an interview with The Information.
Pellegrino highlighted several partners already exploring the network, including market maker Citadel Securities, clearing corporation DTCC, and the Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange.
According to Pellegrino, liquidity on ATLAS will be supported from day one by some of the largest market makers, although he did not disclose specific companies. Initially, the platform will offer spot trading for cryptocurrencies and perpetual futures, with plans to later integrate prediction markets, futures, and options.
The exchange will be built on Zero, a layer-one blockchain that the team discussed in February. It is positioned as a network for global financial markets, payments, and universal applications, boasting a claimed capacity of 2 million transactions per second.
ATLAS will feature two configurations:
- Open — for crypto applications and prediction platforms.
- Institutional — aimed at institutional clients with 24/7 access and flexible participation terms.
Expected Performance of ATLAS and the Role of ZRO
During testing, ATLAS recorded a median latency of no more than 1 ms, with 95% of cases under 1418 ms and 99% under 2641 ms. At launch, the platform's throughput is set at 200,000 transactions per second.
The exchange will implement a flat fee per transaction. Platforms connecting to Open ATLAS will receive rebates ranging from 20% to 65%, depending on trading volume and/or the amount of staked ZRO. To qualify for the maximum rebate, up to 1% of the total token supply must be staked.
LayerZero believes this structure will eliminate the need for partners to add their own markup on top of the exchange fee, as their share is already included in the single fee.
The remaining portion of the fees after the rebate will be allocated as follows: 25% to the market maker and 75% for the buyback and burn of ZRO. The specific amount of the fee itself has not been disclosed by the team.
ZRO will retain all its primary functions, remaining the main asset for gas payments on the network and staking, as well as a tool for voting on protocol updates.
Following the announcement, the asset saw a nearly 3% increase, and it has risen 48% over the past week. As of this writing, ZRO is trading around $1.18.
Hourly chart of ZRO/USDT on Binance. Source: TradingView.It is worth noting that after a hack of the Kelp liquid restaking protocol in May, LayerZero acknowledged that using a single verifier configuration to secure large transactions was a mistake.