Neo has signed an integration agreement with LayerZero, an omnichain messaging protocol, to bring cross-chain communication capabilities to Neo X. Neo co-founder Da Honfei announced on March 16 that the TestNet integration will be completed by the end of this month, followed by the MainNet integration.
LayerZero is a permissionless messaging protocol that enables secure communication between blockchains and currently supports over 120 networks including EVM, Solana, and Sui compatible chains. This integration connects Neo’s EVM-compatible sidechain, Neo X, to this broader cross-chain ecosystem.
Cross-chain strategy takes shape
The agreement follows Consensus Hong Kong discussions in February, where Hongfei reported continued efforts to secure cross-chain infrastructure for the Neo ecosystem. In these conversations, a major protocol operator stated that Neo N3’s integration fees were 14 times higher than Neo X’s. This difference can be attributed to current on-chain volumes and economies of scale rather than NeoVM’s technical limitations.
This cost gap appears to be reflected in the phased approach to integration. While Neo X is on track for near-term deployment, Hongfei said negotiations on Neo N3 integration are continuing separately. “In the meantime, we will continue our Neo N3 integration negotiations,” he said, without giving a timeline.
Neo Global Development will formally announce the integration once the MainNet deployment is complete.
Build on existing infrastructure
Neo X has already established a cross-chain connection with Neo N3 via a message bridge launched in December 2025, allowing smart contract communication between the two chains. The LayerZero integration extends the reach of Neo X beyond the Neo ecosystem to external networks.
Hongfei also previously commented on Tether’s work with LayerZero on the cross-chain stablecoin standard USDT0, describing unified stablecoin liquidity as critical infrastructure, saying:Neo is fully committed to bringing USDT0 into our ecosystem. ” It is not confirmed whether Neo X integration will enable support for USDT0.
The original announcement can be viewed at the link below.
https://x.com/dahongfei/status/2033491531357990970
