Input Output CEO and founder Charles Hoskinson announced a deal to have LayerZero ported to the Cardano blockchain during a keynote address at Consensus Hong Kong on Thursday.
LayerZero, a blockchain aimed at powering institutional markets, received investment from Citadel Securities on Wednesday.
The announcement comes alongside the rollout of Midnight’s mainnet, which was also revealed on Thursday morning.
Hoskinson, comically wearing a McDonalds uniform in a nod to the recent market downturn, said: “The industry is not healthy. S*** is getting real. Twitter is a nuclear waste fire. Sentiment is at an all-time low.”
But he insisted it was a micro downturn and “the macro remains bullish.”
“And to prove it, I’m excited to announce our partnership with LayerZero,” he said. “We’re bringing USDCx to Cardano with a launch date, complete with wide wallet and exchange support. This means stablecoins with true privacy and immutability, powered by zero-knowledge technology. It’s institutional grade, and it’s happening now – along with Midnight’s mainnet rollout. Get ready, folks. This changes everything.”
UPDATE (February 12, 2026, 02:21 UTC): Adds additional information and comments from Charles Hoskinson.
