LayerZero’s ZRO Token Jumps After a16z Boosts $55M Investment

LayerZero’s native token, ZRO, rallied on Thursday after leading venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) expanded its investment in the blockchain interoperability protocol. The a16z crypto arm purchased an additional $55 million worth of ZRO tokens with a 3-year lock-up period, according to general partner Ali Yahya. This move reinforces a16z’s long-term confidence in LayerZero, having previously participated in its $135 million Series A round in 2022 and $120 million Series B round in 2023.

Following the announcement, ZRO surged 10% to $2.56 before paring gains. It remained up around 5% on the day, outperforming the CoinDesk 20 Index and bitcoin (BTC). The price rally highlights growing investor confidence in LayerZero’s role within the Web3 infrastructure space.

LayerZero enables cross-chain communication across 125 blockchains and has processed more than 145 million cross-chain messages and $75 billion in value transfers. Its underlying technology supports major projects, including PayPal’s stablecoin, DeFi platforms Ethena and Pendle, and serves as a key infrastructure partner for Wyoming’s stablecoin initiative.

The fresh capital from a16z will allow LayerZero to expand its focus beyond blockchain interoperability into areas like token issuance, governance, data management, and database optimization. The investment also strengthens the project's position as a foundational layer of the decentralized internet, as the industry increasingly prioritizes secure and scalable cross-chain functionality.

ZRO’s performance reflects the broader trend of institutional capital flowing into blockchain infrastructure providers with real-world use cases. With the backing of a16z and rising adoption, LayerZero is positioned to play a critical role in shaping the future of multi-chain ecosystems.