LayerZero, a blockchain infrastructure firm, has launched ATLAS (Aggregated Trading Liquidity and Settlement), a new trading infrastructure built on its Zero blockchain. This system aims to serve as a backend for exchanges and platforms offering crypto and tokenized assets, combining trade matching, clearing, settlement, and risk management. The initiative is backed by Citadel Securities, with DTCC and ICE exploring institutional market applications. Following the announcement, LayerZero's native ZRO token surged more than 30% from around $1 earlier in the session. ATLAS will not have its own trading app but allows venues to plug into its infrastructure, with configurations for both open crypto trading apps and institutional financial firms. The ZRO token will be linked to trading activity, with venues staking it for fee rebates and 75% of remaining fees used for ZRO buybacks and burns.