Bryan Pellegrino is the CEO and co-founder of LayerZero, a cross-chain interoperability platform that enables developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) that work seamlessly across multiple blockchains. ^[11]

Education

Pellegrino graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BS in Computer Science in 2008. ^[1]

Career

Pellegrino started his career as the COO and co-founder of Coder Den, a tech company that designed and implemented full mobile applications, where he worked with Caleb Banister, LayerZero Labs co-founder. In June 2011, he served as CEO of BuzzDraft, where he worked with developers to establish marketing channels and partnerships. In March 2015, he became the lead engineer for Rho Impact (formerly Rho AI), a company that aids organizations to make an impact using AI. He is currently an entrepreneur in residence, working on various projects. He later co-founded OpenToken, an app supporting next-generation token projects, and worked there until August 2019. In February 2021, he co-founded LayerZero Labs with Caleb Banister and Ryan Zarick. ^[1]

Interviews

LayerZero Labs

In March 2023 on "Wage Cucking with Jmo," Pellegrino discussed his background in crypto, which began with a poker background and evolved through various ventures, including online poker and decentralized finance (DeFi). He shared insights into the evolution of blockchain technology and the development of LayerZero, a protocol designed to facilitate communication between different blockchains by enabling arbitrary message passing. Pellegrino highlighted the importance of secure messaging and cross-chain lending as critical use cases for LayerZero, noting the challenges associated with asset liquidations across chains. He also touched on the current landscape for cryptocurrency funding and the challenges posed by regulatory pressures in the U.S., expressing concerns about the government's approach to crypto regulations. Throughout the conversation, Pellegrino emphasized the importance of protecting capital and maintaining a strong runway for crypto projects, alongside the innovative potential of LayerZero in the blockchain space. ^[2]

Crypto Rails for AI

In April 2025, on The People’s AI: The Decentralized AI Podcast, host Jeff Wiser interviewed Pellegrino, detailing his multifaceted journey from professional poker to the intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Pellegrino recounted his early exposure to computers and his pivotal experiences in poker that led him to explore AI, particularly reinforcement learning, and its applications in various fields, including sports analytics. He shared insights into LayerZero’s function as an infrastructure provider for decentralized AI, emphasizing the importance of creating an adaptable messaging protocol that allows AI agents to interact seamlessly across different blockchain environments. Pellegrino expressed his belief in the necessity of a robust payment framework for AI agents, which would facilitate efficient microtransactions in a way that traditional financial systems struggle with. He acknowledged the current limitations of AI and blockchain technology while maintaining optimism about the potential for decentralized systems to revolutionize how data is managed and owned, suggesting that a significant shift toward user sovereignty in data could reshape the landscape in the coming years. ^[3]

LayerZero Thesis

In a May 2025 episode of Li.Fi’s podcast, Pellegrino shared insights about his unexpected journey into the blockchain space. Initially planning to retire while raising a family, he became absorbed in the challenge of interoperability across blockchain networks after realizing the limitations of existing centralized systems. His team experimented with various solutions, eventually leading to the development of LayerZero, which facilitates secure messaging and value transfer between blockchains. Pellegrino noted that while their early focus was on building technology, they soon recognized the vast potential market. He emphasized the importance of decentralization and user control in this evolving landscape, expressing a conviction that true interoperability would underpin the future of autonomous applications. Reflecting on his previous experiences, he drew parallels between his time as a professional poker player and his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the importance of decision-making and prioritizing impactful projects over minor issues. Ultimately, he underscored the value of long-term partnerships and the cumulative benefits of collaboration within the industry. ^[7]

Presentations

Cross-Chain Protocols

At CSS 2023, Pellegrino discussed the complexities and challenges of cross-chain messaging protocols, particularly emphasizing the principles of immutability, permissionless-ness, and censorship resistance as fundamental to their success. Pellegrino noted that while cross-chain messaging protocols had experienced exponential growth in message transactions, many were built on increasingly centralized systems that presented risks, including susceptibility to hacks. He emphasized that many existing protocols provided merely a service rather than a decentralized protocol, which can lead to potential security vulnerabilities when systems allow for contract upgrades. Highlighting past incidents, such as the Nomad hack, he pointed out that code upgrades could inadvertently introduce critical issues. Additionally, he analyzed how permissionless and censorship-resistant systems contribute to security while cautioning that any ability to censor could ultimately be exploited. Pellegrino concluded that when assessing cross-chain messaging protocols, developers should consider their ability to safeguard against these vulnerabilities while maintaining open, reliable communication across different blockchain infrastructures. ^[8]

Keynote Speech

In a keynote address at AltLayer’s Agentic Crypto Day in March 2025, Pellegrino discussed the company's progress and innovations over the past few years. He reflected on the initial challenges in bridging blockchain technology, highlighting how the focus has evolved from merely transferring value to enabling generalizable messaging and data movement across various chains. Pellegrino presented LayerZero's achievements, including a significant increase in the market share of value transfer and messaging, alongside advancements that have made the user experience smoother and more efficient, such as reduced transfer times and the elimination of external bridging fees. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure, including the introduction of new technologies like QMDB, designed to improve the system's performance and scalability. The keynote highlighted the importance of interoperability in the blockchain space, while acknowledging the challenges that remain in driving widespread adoption and utility of these technologies. ^[9]

Panels

Securing DeFi

At Proof Point in April 2025, Pellegrino participated in a panel discussion alongside Altan Tutar (Nuffle) and Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh (Lagrange). They examined the current state and future of interoperability in decentralized finance (DeFi). They highlighted that while interoperability has made significant strides, particularly in smart contracts and infrastructure, the application layer still requires considerable development. Brian emphasized the importance of secure mechanisms for handling cross-chain transactions and the need for risk management strategies, considering potential vulnerabilities associated with asset control and validation. Tutar highlighted ongoing innovations in user experience and cross-chain solutions that simplify transactions for users unfamiliar with blockchain complexities. The conversation culminated in reflections on how, if interoperability becomes seamlessly integrated, it could lead to streamlined applications that abstract the technical complexities of cross-chain operations, paving the way for greater adoption in the cryptocurrency space. ^[10]

LayerZero

At ETHDenver 2022, Pellegrino discussed the challenges and solutions in building cross-chain and multi-chain applications. He highlighted the systemic risks associated with current cross-chain solutions that rely on a central consensus mechanism, which can be exploited if compromised. Pellegrino emphasized the need for customizable security parameters tailored to specific application needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. He advocated for a modular system where security choices are made at the application layer, reducing systemic risk and improving capital efficiency. Additionally, he noted the industry's shift from focusing solely on value transfer to encompassing broader messaging and synchronization needs across chains. ^[4]

Connecting Subnets

At Avalanche Summit 2022, Pellegrino discussed using LayerZero to connect Avalanche subnets, emphasizing the importance of generic messaging over simple value transfer for more complex applications. He highlighted the need for seamless messaging between chains to avoid the need for each project to develop its infrastructure, which can be inefficient. Pellegrino explained that LayerZero provides a primitive messaging layer, enabling chains to deploy their bridges without dealing with the associated security and maintenance challenges. He also touched on the launch of Stargate, a new type of bridge using native asset pools to facilitate liquidity transfer, and the broad range of use cases beyond DeFi, including gaming and NFTs. ^[6]