American brokerage platform Robinhood has announced the rollout of its proprietary layer-2 network, Gold Lattice, built on Ethereum’s infrastructure. The company’s top executives outlined the reasons behind this strategic decision at the EthCC 2026 conference held in Paris. Johann Kerbrat, General Manager of Robinhood Crypto, highlighted Ethereum’s unique combination of decentralization, economic finality, and resistance to censorship. Kerbrat underscored the immense responsibility in safeguarding billions of dollars in customer assets, noting that Ethereum’s security standards set it apart from competing blockchains.
Key Factors Driving Robinhood’s Ethereum Strategy
Three main factors influenced Robinhood’s move: a shared security framework, decentralization, and robust economic finality. Gold Lattice leverages Ethereum’s proof-of-stake validator set as its settlement layer to tap into the network’s established security. Engaging with debates on the matter, Kerbrat stressed the inherent difficulty in building a truly decentralized and secure blockchain.
Johann Kerbrat emphasized that establishing a genuinely decentralized and secure blockchain is extremely challenging, adding that Ethereum essentially guarantees this level of security by default. He remarked that most newly developed chains struggle to deliver the same scale and reliability.
Robinhood’s leadership also noted that some high-speed blockchains compromise security and scale by relying on fewer independent validators. In terms of economic finality, Ethereum’s vast locked capital makes reversing transactions nearly impossible—an assurance that’s crucial for institutional trust. Kerbrat also pointed out that on Ethereum, no entity, not even Robinhood, can censor or reverse customer transactions.
Gold Lattice Offers New Features for Users
Gold Lattice is fully compatible with the Ethereum ecosystem, built using Arbitrum Orbit technology. This integration enables users to transfer assets instantly between Ethereum’s mainnet and popular layer-2 networks like Base and Optimism. For Robinhood Gold subscribers, transactions on Gold Lattice are effectively fee-free, as the platform covers all gas fees. Additionally, a built-in Smart Liquidity layer automatically stakes idle Ether and stablecoins on the network, allowing users to earn an annual yield of approximately 3.2% without taking extra steps—a model reminiscent of BlackRock’s recently announced ETHB staking ETF.
The zero gas fee transaction feature builds on Robinhood’s legacy of commission-free trading, a model that revolutionized retail investing. By eliminating trading fees in traditional finance, Robinhood set a new industry standard. Now, with Gold Lattice, the company aims to remove transaction fees from the crypto experience as well, targeting a major barrier for everyday users.
Gold Lattice’s Impact on Robinhood’s Revenue Model
In addition to its product features, Gold Lattice represents a pivotal shift in Robinhood’s revenue strategy. Previously, when Robinhood users interacted with other blockchains, revenues from transaction fees and MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) exited the platform. With Gold Lattice, these revenue streams remain internal. Thanks to Robinhood’s vast user base, Gold Lattice is positioned to achieve liquidity and transaction volumes that could set it apart from existing layer-2 projects. Unlike many networks that start by courting developers, Robinhood’s network launched with a ready-made and sizable audience.
Rising Institutional Interest in Ethereum
The launch day for Gold Lattice coincided with key milestones for Ethereum’s institutional adoption. Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw single-day inflows of $72.4 million, with major asset managers such as BlackRock and Fidelity purchasing more than 34,000 ETH. On the same day, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin introduced a new strategy for the Ethereum Foundation, and Robinhood—one of the largest mainstream trading platforms—publicly opted for Ethereum’s security model. The convergence of endorsements from key asset managers, network founders, and Robinhood further cemented Ethereum’s position in the institutional arena.
