Standards and Improvement Proposals
Tracks Axelar-specific proposals (AXIPs), General Message Passing (GMP) message format standards, Interchain Token Service (ITS) specifications, and cross-chain protocol conventions. Builders and integrators rely on these to understand how Axelar's interoperability primitives evolve, how message encoding and decoding rules change, and what new cross-chain capabilities become available. This group differs from Network Upgrades by focusing on the design and specification layer rather than the activation mechanics.
AXIPs (Axelar Improvement Proposals)
Canonical index and status tracker for all Axelar Improvement Proposals. Explains the AXIP lifecycle, categories (Core, Interface, Informational), and how they differ from on-chain governance votes. A critical hub for builders and integrators to understand the formal change process and assess the impact of proposed standards on their cross-chain applications.
GMP Message Format Standards
Specification layer for General Message Passing payloads. Tracks the evolution of message encoding/decoding rules, command routing, and the structure of cross-chain messages. Essential for any team building a cross-chain application that sends or receives GMP calls, with direct implications for integration compatibility and upgrade readiness.
Interchain Token Service (ITS) Specifications
Definitive design documents for the Interchain Token Service. Tracks the standard for how tokens are bridged, wrapped, and managed across chains, including token manager logic, rate-limiting specifications, and the interface for custom token implementations. A primary reference for teams launching multichain assets or integrating ITS into exchanges and wallets.
Gateway Contract Interface Standards
Defines the on-chain interface for Axelar's gateway contracts across all connected chains. Covers function signatures, event schemas, and the standard methods for dApps to interact with the network. A critical reference for smart contract developers and auditors performing integration review and security assessment.
Cross-Chain Address Encoding and Representation
Standard for how addresses from different chains (EVM, Cosmos, Solana, etc.) are represented within Axelar's GMP and ITS payloads. Covers the canonical string format, chain prefixes, and how to avoid address collision or misinterpretation bugs. Essential for wallet developers and application teams to prevent fund-loss scenarios.
Finality and Confirmation Level Standards
Specifies how Axelar defines and treats transaction finality on various connected chains before relaying a message. Covers the mapping of chain-specific confirmation levels to Axelar's internal safety model. Crucial for high-value cross-chain applications, institutional integrators, and risk teams assessing settlement guarantees.
Cross-Chain Error Handling and Revert Conventions
Standard for how errors during cross-chain execution are encoded, propagated back to the source chain, and surfaced to users. Covers the 'execution reverted' message format and best practices for application-level recovery logic. Directly impacts application developers building resilient cross-chain UX and monitoring systems.
ITS Token Standard (Interchain Fungible Token)
Core standard for a fungible token that is natively interoperable across chains via ITS. Covers the required interface, metadata management, and how it differs from a simple wrapped asset. The go-to specification for teams launching a multichain token and for exchanges planning to list and support interchain assets.
Canonical vs. Wrapped Asset Mapping Standard
Convention for establishing a single 'canonical' representation of an asset on each chain and how wrapped versions map to it. Addresses the problem of multiple bridged versions of the same asset and defines the standard for the 'one true' token. Critical for exchanges, wallets, and DeFi protocols to manage liquidity fragmentation and user confusion.
Amplifier Integration Standards
Specification for how external networks (like new L1s or appchains) can integrate with Axelar's Amplifier to permissionlessly connect to the wider interchain. Covers the required smart contract interfaces, verification logic, and reward/slashing mechanics. A key resource for protocol architects planning new chain launches and integration with Axelar's security model.
Interchain Security Model Specifications
Formal description of the security models available (e.g., permissioned validator set, Amplifier-based proof-of-stake). Compares the trust assumptions, liveness guarantees, and message verification rules for each model. Helps institutional risk teams and application builders choose the right security posture for their cross-chain operations.
Cross-Chain Naming Service Standards
Proposals and specifications for a unified, human-readable naming system across the Axelar network. Covers how a name on one chain can resolve to an address on another, reducing user error in cross-chain transactions. Relevant for wallet developers and front-end teams seeking to improve cross-chain UX and security.