ZRO is the native token of LayerZero, a protocol that lets apps move messages and tokens across more than 100 blockchains. The token launched in June 2024 with an airdrop that required a small donation to Ethereum's Protocol Guild.

ZRO doesn't have to stay inside the LayerZero ecosystem to be useful, and in 2026 holders can also put the token toward hotels, flights, gift cards and physical collectibles. On Polkastarter, you can purchase physical collectibles such as trading cards, sealed products and video games. New users can also claim a free mystery pack when they sign up.

CoinBooking lets ZRO holders book hotels and flights, with prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. New users can also claim $25 off their first booking.

Here are six ways to use ZRO in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• ZRO holders can buy authenticated trading cards, sealed products, and video games on Polkastarter, with ownership recorded on-chain. First-time users can also get a free mystery pack after signing up.
• CoinBooking also accepts ZRO for hotel and flight bookings, at prices up to 30% lower than on Booking.com. First-time users can also claim $25 off their first booking.
• Within LayerZero, ZRO gives holders a vote in governance, including the fee switch decision. It can also pay cross-chain messaging fees in place of a chain's native gas token.
• Supported crypto debit cards can bring ZRO into day-to-day spending. Mastercard-linked cards work at millions of merchants worldwide where the issuer supports both the card and ZRO.
• ZRO can be used to buy gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups from more than 5,000 brands in 185+ countries on Coinsbee.

What Is LayerZero (ZRO)?

LayerZero is an interoperability protocol that lets smart contracts on different blockchains send messages and tokens to each other. LayerZero Labs launched the protocol in March 2022, with the Stargate bridge as one of its first apps, and the ZRO token followed in June 2024.

LayerZero Labs was founded by Bryan Pellegrino, Ryan Zarick and Caleb Banister, with Pellegrino serving as CEO. The LayerZero Foundation oversees the token and its governance.

ZRO is used for governance and can pay cross-chain message fees. The maximum supply is 1 billion ZRO, with about 399 million in circulation, and the token trades on exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase and Upbit.

How Does LayerZero (ZRO) Work?

LayerZero places an endpoint contract on every connected chain. When an app sends a message, independent verifier networks, known as DVNs, check it, and an executor delivers it to the destination chain.

Each app chooses which DVNs must approve its messages, so security is set app by app. Token issuers use the Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard to move a token across chains without wrapping it, as Tether does with USDT0.

ZRO holders vote on the fee switch, which decides whether the protocol charges a fee on each message. Apps can also pay message fees in ZRO instead of the native gas token.

What stands out to me about LayerZero is how much control each app gets. It picks which verifier networks have to approve a message before it lands on the other chain. If you hold ZRO, you get a vote on the fee switch, and the token can cover message fees too. It's actually useful.

1. Buy Physical Collectibles With ZRO on Polkastarter

Polkastarter gives you a way to spend your ZRO on physical collectibles, including trading cards, sealed products and video games. All items are authenticated and professionally stored, while ownership is recorded on-chain.

Depending on the item, you can either get it delivered or list it back on the marketplace. ZRO is not currently accepted directly at checkout, so you'll need to convert it into a supported cryptocurrency first.

Once the account is funded, you can browse available collectibles and Lootboxes, with information about contents, value and odds provided before you buy. First-time users can also claim a free mystery pack after signing up.

You can check the Polkastarter marketplace for current stock and supported payment methods.

Polkastarter is a good fit if you're into trading cards, sealed products or video games. You pay for the item in crypto, it stays in professional custody, and you choose later whether to have it delivered or list it back on the marketplace. Just swap your ZRO for a supported cryptocurrency first.

2. Book Hotels and Flights With ZRO on CoinBooking

Planning a trip and have ZRO sitting in your wallet? CoinBooking lets you use it for travel bookings. You can also book hotels and flights for prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. The Dubai-licensed leading crypto travel platform lists more than 2 million hotel and flight options in over 190 countries.

ZRO can be used directly for your booking, so there is no need to convert it to fiat first, which helps you avoid the extra fees and markups often associated with crypto-focused travel platforms. If you prefer traditional payment methods, CoinBooking also accepts Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

First-time users can also claim $25 off their first booking.

What stands out to me about CoinBooking is the pricing. You can book flights and hotels for up to 30% less than on Booking.com and pay with your ZRO directly. If you travel just twice a year, that's money you get to keep.

3. Use ZRO Across the LayerZero Ecosystem

ZRO has its most direct utility within LayerZero itself. Holders vote on protocol decisions, most notably the fee switch, which would add a protocol fee paid in ZRO to every cross-chain message. Holders first voted on it in December 2024.

The token also works as a payment option for messaging. Apps that send messages between chains can settle their fees in ZRO rather than in the gas token of the source chain.

Its role grew in 2025, when Stargate, the bridge built on LayerZero, was folded into the LayerZero Foundation and STG holders swapped their tokens for ZRO.

What I like about ZRO is that it gives you a real say in how LayerZero runs. You can vote on the fee switch, and apps can pay their message fees with it. If you held STG, you've already seen how far it reaches, because those tokens were swapped for ZRO.

4. Spend ZRO With a Crypto Card

You can also spend your ZRO through crypto payment cards. Depending on the provider, you can use a card to pay online, shop in stores where Visa or Mastercard is accepted, or make mobile payments through Google Pay and Apple Pay.

The options vary by region. RedotPay serves users in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, though it isn't available to US residents. KAST provides virtual and physical cards built on Solana, and Ether.fi supports self-custody and offers cashback on eligible purchases.

To get started, pick a provider that covers your location, fund the account with ZRO, and order a card. Check each provider's fees, features, and availability before signing up.

A crypto card is a good fit if you'd like to spend ZRO without thinking twice about it. You pay online or in a shop the way you usually do, and Ether.fi even adds cashback on eligible purchases. It's worth comparing the fees first, since they vary from provider to provider.

5. Buy Gift Cards and Everyday Products With ZRO on Coinsbee

Shopping, gaming, travel and food delivery are among the categories where ZRO can be spent via Coinsbee. The platform has gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups from more than 5,000 brands in 185+ countries.

Available categories also cover shopping, groceries, gaming, travel, food delivery, and entertainment. To make a purchase, pick a supported brand and denomination, select ZRO as the payment method, and complete the transaction. After the payment is confirmed, your digital code is delivered according to the platform's stated process.

The catalogue varies by country, so check the products available in your region before buying.

Coinsbee is the option on this list for small, day-to-day purchases. Gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups are all available, and you can pay with ZRO at checkout. The brands depend on where you live, so it's worth a quick check of the catalogue first.

6. Access Early-Stage Token Sales Through CoinTerminal

If you'd like to use ZRO in early-stage token sales, CoinTerminal lets you exchange it for the assets required to join launches. Projects can be available before they reach exchanges, with contributions starting from $100 and no staking requirement. Each sale also comes with a refund window.

ZRO isn't accepted directly, so you'll need to convert it into the asset required for the sale, usually USDT.

Visit CoinTerminal to see which token sales are currently open.

What I like about CoinTerminal is that you can start small. You don't need to stake anything to qualify, $100 is enough to join, and every sale comes with its own refund window. If you've been curious about early-stage sales, it's a simple place to start.

Sources

• LayerZero, LayerZero official website and ZRO ecosystem overview
• Binance Academy, What Is Polkastarter (POLS)?
• Revolut, Polkastarter (POLS) Price Today
• CoinMarketCap, Polkastarter trade volume and market listings
• CoinMarketCap, LayerZero (ZRO) price, market cap and live token data

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does LayerZero do?

LayerZero is an interoperability protocol that lets apps send messages and tokens between blockchains. Each app chooses which verifier networks must approve its messages, and token issuers use the OFT standard to move assets across chains without wrapping them. ZRO, its native token, is used for governance, including the fee switch vote, and can pay message fees.

2. Can I book hotels and flights with ZRO?

Yes. Through CoinBooking, a Dubai-licensed crypto travel platform, you can book from more than 2 million hotels and flights in 190+ countries at prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. You can pay directly with ZRO or use Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay and Apple Pay. New users can also get $25 off their first booking.

3. Which chains are supported by LayerZero?

LayerZero connects more than 100 blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Solana and Aptos. Apps deploy on each chain through an endpoint contract, and tokens built on the OFT standard, such as Tether's USDT0, can move between the connected networks without being wrapped.

4. Who owns LayerZero?

LayerZero was built by LayerZero Labs, the company founded by Bryan Pellegrino, Ryan Zarick and Caleb Banister, with Pellegrino as CEO. The LayerZero Foundation oversees the ZRO token, and ZRO holders vote on protocol decisions such as the fee switch.

5. What is the current market capitalization of LayerZero (ZRO)?

LayerZero has a market cap of about $787 million, ranking around #74 on CoinMarketCap, with ZRO near $1.97. About 399 million of the 1 billion maximum supply is in circulation, and the price is roughly 74% below its all-time high of $7.53 from December 2024. Prices change constantly, and this is not investment advice.