Institutional Business Development Intern

Layer Zero

The Future is Omnichain.

Layer Zero is building the messaging protocol that allows blockchains to talk to each other. As the  TCP/IP  of the decentralized world, we are leading the charge in institutional blockchain adoption.

Central to this mission is Zero, our dedicated institutional chain developed in collaboration with industry titans including the DTCC, Citadel Securities, and ICE (Intercontinental Exchange). Zero is designed to provide the performance, compliance, and interoperability required for the next generation of global financial markets.

We are seeking an intellectually curious and highly motivated intern to join our Institutional Business Development team. In this role, you will report directly to Layer Zero’s Banking and Capital Markets Lead, supporting high-priority industry initiatives and customer projects at the absolute forefront of digital assets.

This role is for someone who wants to be in the room as the world’s largest financial institutions move from  pilot  to  production.  You will assist in building the strategic frameworks that help banks, asset managers, and market infrastructures transition to a blockchain-native future. This is a rare opportunity to act in an advisory capacity, helping institutions navigate the complexities of building on Zero and going cross-chain.

Start and end dates are flexible and being NYC-based is required as we have a strong in-office culture.

• Institutional Playbook Development:
  Help create the  On-Chain Playbook  for global institutions. You will help define the legal, technical, and operational steps required for a firm to launch assets on Zero or utilize Layer Zero for cross-chain settlement.
• Ecosystem Activation:
  Act in an advisory capacity for institutions building cross-chain and on Zero. You will assist in identifying specific use cases (e.g., intraday repo, tokenized collateral, 24/7 settlement) and help them realize their business objectives.
• Strategic Project Support:
  Work closely with the Banking and Capital Markets Lead on  Zero-to-One  initiatives involving our financial institution customers.
• Lead Development & Mapping:
  Support the mapping of the institutional landscape—identifying the right stakeholders within global financial institutions to drive adoption of our stack.
• Market Intelligence:
  Stay on the pulse of the convergence between Trad Fi and DeFi. You’ll summarize regulatory shifts, competitor moves, and new trends in digital assets to inform our GTM strategies.
• Enable and Evangelize:
  Help create professional decks, white papers, and case studies that articulate the value of Zero and the  Omnichain  standard to institutional committees and innovation labs.

• Deeply Curious:
  You follow the  Institutional Crypto  narrative closely. You’re interested in how institutions might leverage blockchain to solve settlement and liquidity challenges.
• Strategic Thinker:
  You enjoy breaking down a complex problem into a structured  Playbook.  You can look at a bank’s manual process and envision a more efficient, automated version using tokenization.
• Proactive & Scrappy:
  You don't wait for instructions. If you don't know how a clearinghouse works, for example, you’ll spend the night researching it until you can explain it to the team.
• Versatile:
  You’re comfortable with a high level of responsibility and are excited about the opportunity to support a fast-moving team in a complex, evolving environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Layer Zero Labs is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Layer Zero Labs is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.