Axelar, the blockchain network that helps developers build cross-chain crypto apps, is expanding its product suite with the introduction of Axelar Virtual Machine (VM) – a generalized environment for building interconnected blockchains. The introduction of the VM is a step forward in the mission of making it easier for developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) across multiple blockchains.
“Axelar Virtual Machine will allow developers to build their dApps once – whether on EVM, Cairo VM, Cosmos or another ecosystem – and run them on all chains,” Axelar said in a statement.
Today, most blockchains are walled gardens. Applications built on one chain often lack access to data or services on another. Different blockchains use different programming languages, and operating across chains generally means using complex infrastructure like bridges and oracles. Axelar describes itself as “Stripe for Web3” – just as Stripe provides a one-stop-shop for Web2 developers to bake virtually any banking institution into their apps, Axelar aims to help Web3 developers integrate seamlessly across different chains.
Axelar’s main product offering is a network that was purpose-built to communicate with a growing set of different blockchains. The Axelar network and its accompanying Application Programming Interface (API) help developers build crypto apps that work with assets on all of these chains. However, building cross-chain crypto apps still remains complex – each time a developer deploys on a new chain, they need to go through a lengthy set-up process and re-tool their code for chain-specific quirks.
This is where the idea of creating an excellent virtual machine – an interoperability layer – came about. A virtual machine is like a software version of a physical computer – it is a place to build applications that read and write data in a shared space. Axelar’s new VM will extend upon the protocol’s cross-chain mission by providing a framework for building blockchains that – like the Axelar network – can natively swap assets and messages between one another. Blockchains built using Axelar’s new VM will be able to talk to one another, and app builders that develop VM-compatible apps will be able to deploy their software onto VM-compatible chains.
Axelar’s new VM is being described as a Web3 version of Google’s Kubernetes – a popular toolkit that provides building blocks for developers to spin up and scale web apps. Kubernetes allows developers to program how they want to deploy their application in the Web2 world. Similarly, using the Axelar virtual machine, developers can specify their deployment configurations and then upload their code. With one transaction, that code will get pushed to all the chains interconnected through the Axelar protocol.
Over the next six months, as Axelar begins to roll out its VM, the team will be “working with app developers and protocol developers to build templates” that will allow developers to roll out their apps with certain deployment conditions pre-configured.
Axelar’s most recent fundraising round valued the company at over $1 billion. According to Axelarscan, a tool that tracks Axelar network activity, the protocol is currently connected to 32 different chains – including Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche and Arbitrum – and has processed $86 million in asset transfers over the past 30 days.
The introduction of the Axelar Virtual Machine is an important step in the mission to make it easier for developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) across multiple blockchains. By providing a framework for building blockchains that can natively swap assets and messages between one another, Axelar’s VM will make it easier for developers to deploy their code across different chains. It will also provide developers with templates to roll out their apps with certain deployment conditions pre-configured.
Axelar’s main product offering is a network that was purpose-built to communicate with a growing set of different blockchains. The Axelar network and its accompanying Application Programming Interface (API) help developers build crypto apps that work with assets on all of these chains. However, building cross-chain crypto apps still remains complex – each time a developer deploys on a new chain, they need to go through a lengthy set-up process and re-tool their code for chain-specific quirks.
This is where the idea of creating an excellent virtual machine – an interoperability layer – came about. A virtual machine is like a software version of a physical computer – it is a place to build applications that read and write data in a shared space. Axelar’s new VM will extend upon the protocol’s cross-chain mission by providing a framework for building blockchains that – like the Axelar network – can natively swap assets and messages between one another. Blockchains built using Axelar’s new VM will be able to talk to one another, and app builders that develop VM-compatible apps will be able to deploy their software onto VM-compatible chains.
Axelar’s new VM is being described as a Web3 version of Google’s Kubernetes – a popular toolkit that provides building blocks for developers to spin up and scale web apps. Kubernetes allows developers to program how they want to deploy their application in the Web2 world. Similarly, using the Axelar virtual machine, developers can specify their deployment configurations and then upload their code. With one transaction, that code will get pushed to all the chains interconnected through the Axelar protocol.
Over the next six months, as Axelar begins to roll out its VM, the team will be “working with app developers and protocol developers to build templates” that will allow developers to roll out their apps with certain deployment conditions pre-configured. This will be a major boon for developers, as it will make it much easier to deploy their code across different chains. It will also save developers time, as they won’t need to go through a lengthy set-up process and re-tool their code for chain-specific quirks.
Axelar’s most recent fundraising round valued the company at over $1 billion. According to Axelarscan, a tool that tracks Axelar network activity, the protocol is currently connected to 32 different chains – including Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche and Arbitrum – and has processed $86 million in asset transfers over the past 30 days. This is a testament to the success of the Axelar network and its ability to make cross-chain development easier for developers.
In conclusion, the introduction of the Axelar Virtual Machine is a major step forward in the mission to make cross-chain development easier for developers. By providing a framework for building blockchains that can natively swap assets and messages between one another, Axelar’s VM will make it easier for developers to deploy their code across different chains. It will also provide developers with templates to roll out their apps with certain deployment conditions pre-configured. The success of the Axelar network is evident in the fact that it is currently connected to 32 different chains and has processed $86 million in asset transfers over the past 30 days.