Input Output CEO and founder Charles Hoskinson announced a deal to port LayerZero to the Cardano blockchain during a keynote speech at Consensus Hong Kong on Thursday.
LayerZero is a blockchain intended to power institutional-grade markets that received an investment from Citadel Securities on Wednesday.
This announcement comes alongside Midnight’s mainnet rollout, which was also revealed Thursday morning.
Hoskinson, who comically wore a McDonald’s uniform in a nod to the recent market downturn, said: “The industry is not healthy. Shit is getting real. Twitter is a nuclear dumpster fire. Sentiment is at an all-time low.”
But he insisted it was a micro-recession and “the macroeconomic backdrop 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 set launch date, with broad wallet and exchange support. That means stablecoins with true privacy and immutability, powered by zero-knowledge technology. It’s institutional-grade, and it’s happening now – alongside 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.
