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Axelar

What is Axelar?

Axelar is a secure interoperability platform that enables token transfers and communication across different blockchains, regardless of their consensus mechanisms or message payloads. It operates on a proof-of-stake security model similar to many of the chains it connects.

Overview

Axelar revolutionizes cross-chain interactions by providing a permissionless and censorship-resistant infrastructure for interchain applications. It simplifies the process of sending tokens and messages between different blockchain networks.

Key Features

  • Secure Token Transfers: Enables safe movement of tokens across various blockchains.
  • Cross-Chain Communication: Facilitates message passing between different blockchain networks.
  • Permissionless Architecture: Ensures transactions cannot be censored by oracles, relayers, or validators.
  • Proof-of-Stake Security: Utilizes a robust security model similar to connected chains.

Core Functionalities

Interchain Transactions

  • callContract(): Send messages without tokens across chains.
  • callContractWithToken(): Send messages along with ERC-20 tokens across chains.

Gas Management

  • AxelarGasService: Handles gas payments for cross-chain transactions.

Transaction Monitoring

  • Axelarscan: Dedicated blockchain explorer for executing, recovering, or checking transaction status.

Developer Tools

Token Management

  • Create new Interchain Tokens
  • Upgrade existing ERC-20 tokens to Interchain Tokens

Cross-Chain Operations

  • Send tokens between different blockchains
  • Implement rate limits for cross-chain token transfers
  • Call smart contracts on other chains with or without token attachments

Development Resources

  • axelar-examples: Sample cross-chain apps
  • foundry-axelar-gmp-example: Foundry framework integration
  • AxelarJS SDK: npm library for APIs and query tools
  • axelar-local-dev: Local cross-chain development environment

Axelar provides developers with a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to build secure, efficient, and truly interoperable blockchain applications across multiple networks.

Learn more at Axelar Developer Documentation