Axelar chain
Overview
Axelar is a decentralized cross-chain messaging protocol and bridge network that connects multiple blockchain ecosystems. It uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and its native token (AXL) for transaction fees and governance, enabling secure token transfers and general message passing between chains.
Within the DeFi Intel graph, Axelar connects to 3 tracked entities, most strongly to Cosmos Hub, Cosmos SDK, AXL.
Relations
Top connections in the DeFi Intel knowledge graph (confidence-weighted, 3 of 3 total).
| Relation | Connected entity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
bridges | Cosmos Hub | 90% |
built_with | Cosmos SDK | 90% |
supports_token | AXL | 85% |
More on Axelar
Frequently asked questions
What is General Message Passing?
GMP is Axelar's facility for smart contracts on different chains to call each other; validators verify and vote to approve the message before the destination chain executes the call.
What do Axelar validators do differently from other chains?
In addition to normal consensus, they run nodes for the supported external chains and vote to verify all cross-chain activity processed by the network.
What is the AXL token used for?
AXL is staked by validators; the amount staked determines a validator's share of the multi-party key used to authorize cross-chain execution.
Related reading
- Hyperlane vs Axelar (2026): Full Comparison
- LayerZero vs Axelar (2026): Full Comparison
- Wormhole vs Axelar (2026): Cross-Chain Messaging Comparison
Sources
Facts on this page were verified against the following sources.