Axelar positions itself as the provider of "secure cross-chain communication for Web3," offering a decentralized network and toolset tailored to assist decentralized application (dApp) developers in achieving seamless cross-chain communication through its suite of protocols, tools, and APIs. The core components of Axelar consist of three elements: a decentralized network, a software development kit comprising protocols and APIs, and a series of gateway smart contracts designed for facilitating cross-chain connectivity. Fueled by a decentralized network of validators, Axelar enables open participation, allowing anyone to contribute to, build upon, or utilize the network. Application developers can engage with a straightforward API atop this permissionless network, which efficiently routes messages and upholds network security through a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. AXL serves as the native token of the Axelar network. Additionally, the protocol facilitates cross-chain transfers of various native tokens via their wrapped ERC-20 counterparts, encompassing AVAX (Avalanche), ETH (Ethereum), FTM (Fantom), GLMR (Moonbeam), and MATIC (Polygon). Furthermore, Axelar has garnered support from esteemed investors, including Binance, Coinbase Ventures, Dragonfly Capital, Polychain Capital, among others.