Axelar

Axelar is a decentralized interoperability network and Layer-1 blockchain that securely connects different blockchains, enabling cross-chain communication for apps and smart contracts (not just token transfers). It does this through Axelar’s own PoS validator network plus “Gateway” components on connected chains, so developers can build interchain applications without integrating every chain pair manually.

Axelar’s architecture centers on a validator set that verifies cross-chain events/messages and routes them through Axelar’s infrastructure to destination chains via gateway interfaces/contracts. This provides a programmable, chain-to-chain messaging layer that apps can use to trigger logic across networks.

Key features of Axelar include:

• Layer-1 Validator Network (PoS): a dedicated, decentralized validator set that secures and validates cross-chain communication.

• Gateway Infrastructure: gateway contracts/components deployed on connected chains to execute verified cross-chain messages and interactions.

• General Message Passing (GMP): cross-chain messaging that allows a contract on one chain to call a contract on another chain, optionally with tokens attached.

• Interchain Token Service (ITS): tooling and smart-contract framework for creating and managing tokens that can be used across multiple chains.

• Interchain Amplifier: a framework intended to streamline and expand how additional chains can be integrated into Axelar’s interoperability layer.

Axelar is positioned as a foundational interoperability layer for Web3, providing a unified way for developers to build cross-chain dApps and services with secure messaging and scalable multi-chain connectivity.