Another major LayerZero verifier has just defected to Chainlink.
Nethermind, the team behind one of Ethereum’s most widely managed execution clients, is shutting down its decentralized verification network (DVN) operations for LayerZero and join Chainlink as a node operatorwhere it will help secure Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and data feeds.
What’s the scoop?
- The move: DVNs are the independent verifiers that authenticate cross-chain messages in LayerZero’s security model, and Nethermind was one of the most important. Nethermind is now consolidating its cross-chain infrastructure work under Chainlink, taking on two roles at once: a node operator securing CCIP and data feeds, and a “strategic technology provider” creating development tools and integration support to help institutions build on-chain.
- The CV: Founded in 2017, Nethermind runs one of Ethereum’s largest execution clients (CEO Daniel Celeda says it now powers over a third of the network) with infrastructure supporting over 16,000 validators and +$5 billion in delegated assets for clients including Lido, EtherFi, StarkWare, and Arbitrum.
- The backstory: The move follows an April exploit that drained $292 million from Kelp DAO’s rsETH bridge, which ran on LayerZero-powered infrastructure. Kelp itself later migrated to Chainlink. Fast forward to today, and Chainlink’s CCIP has already collected several billion TVL from teams that have left LayerZero.
- What wasn’t said: Neither company has disclosed financial terms, migration timelines, or specific technical complaints regarding LayerZero. Nethermind’s announcement only states a “thorough review.”
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