Ethereum engineering firm Nethermind leaves LayerZero verifier role for Chainlink

Nethermind, a core contributor to the Ethereum ecosystem, is leaving its role as a LayerZero verifier and moving its cross-chain operations to Chainlink following an "extensive review.""Nethermind has migrated away from its Decentralized Verifier Network (DVN) operations and joined the Chainlink Network as a node operator and strategic technology provider," Nethermind said Wednesday.DVNs are independent entities that validate the authenticity and integrity of messages sent across blockchains within the LayerZero ecosystem. As a Chainlink technology provider, Nethermind will also contribute engineering tools, infrastructure services and integration support for teams building blockchain applications."The move reflects a notable shift by a prominent LayerZero infrastructure operator toward Chainlink's secure-by-default architecture as institutional adoption of onchain finance accelerates," a Chainlink spokesperson told The Block.LayerZero exodusNethermind joins a growing group of firms that have moved cross-chain operations from LayerZero to Chainlink in the months since an April attack on Kelp DAO's rsETH bridge. The attack resulted in the loss of 116,500 rsETH, worth about $292 million at the time, from the LayerZero-powered bridge.It is unclear whether Nethermind started its extensive review after the Kelp exploit. Nethermind did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement did not identify any specific technical problem with LayerZero or disclose financial or other terms related to the Chainlink shift.Founded in 2017, Nethermind is an Ethereum engineering firm with more than 200 employees and develops one of Ethereum's main execution clients. Nethermind said its software supports more than 16,000 Ethereum validators and over $5 billion in delegated assets. Its infrastructure is used by projects including EtherFi, Gnosis, Lido, StarkWare, World and Arbitrum. Nethermind also works on blockchain security, formal verification and infrastructure for financial institutions and crypto protocols.Nethermind CEO Daniel Celeda said the firm has made a long-term decision to focus its cross-chain operations on Chainlink."Being a node operator carries real responsibility for a network's reliability, and that's consistent with how we approach every engineering commitment we make," Celeda said in a statement. "We have always made deliberate, long-term bets on the infrastructure we believe will define the next era of onchain finance, and consolidating our cross-chain operations to Chainlink CCIP reflects that conviction."Nethermind said it will provide updates during the migration but did not provide a timeline for completing the move.Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.