Latest Axelar (AXL) News Update

By CMC AI
17 September 2026 12:21AM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on AXL?

TLDR

Axelar is gaining strategic importance as a cross-chain bridge, highlighted by a major partnership and steady ecosystem growth. Here are the latest news:

  1. Ripple Proposes Axelar for XRPL Bridge (28 August 2026) – Ripple recommends adopting Axelar as the primary bridge for the XRP Ledger, replacing its native solution.

  2. Ecosystem Reports Strong Growth Metrics (28 August 2026) – Axelar's network shows over $175M in total value locked and facilitates billions in cross-chain volume.

  3. Secret Network Bridge Loses $4.67M (20 June 2026) – An exploit on a custom bridge contract highlights persistent security risks in cross-chain infrastructure.

Deep Dive

1. Ripple Proposes Axelar for XRPL Bridge (28 August 2026)

Overview: Ripple has formally recommended that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) community withdraw its pending native bridge amendment, XLS-38 (XChainBridge), and instead rely on Axelar's network for cross-chain connectivity. This decision stems from Axelar already serving as the mainnet bridge for the XRPL EVM Sidechain since June 2025 and a lack of developer demand for the native solution. Withdrawing XLS-38 would remove over 10,000 lines of inactive code from the XRPL codebase. What this means: This is bullish for AXL as it signifies a major vote of confidence from a large ecosystem, potentially locking in significant, long-term cross-chain volume and utility for Axelar's protocol. The move underscores Axelar's competitive positioning in the interoperability race. (CoinMarketCap)

2. Ecosystem Reports Strong Growth Metrics (28 August 2026)

Overview: A community update highlighted Axelar's expanding network fundamentals, including over $175 million in Total Value Locked (TVL), more than 13 billion in total cross-chain volume, and 4.5 million total transactions. The update also noted that $AXL is live on the Axelar App across 16 EVM chains and is powering new integrations like $SOL on the XRP Ledger. What this means: This is neutral to bullish for AXL, demonstrating tangible adoption and usage growth. Strong TVL and volume metrics are foundational for a utility-driven token, though the key watchpoint is whether this activity translates into sustained demand for the AXL token itself. (Encapsulate HQ)

3. Secret Network Bridge Loses $4.67M (20 June 2026)

Overview: An attacker exploited an infinite-mint vulnerability in a modified bridge contract connecting Axelar to Secret Network, stealing approximately $4.67 million over seven days before detection. Axelar's emergency committee disabled the affected connection, noting the core protocol was not compromised. What this means: This is bearish for AXL's narrative in the short term, as it renews focus on the security risks inherent to cross-chain bridges. However, the containment to a specific, non-core contract may limit long-term reputational damage if handled transparently. (TradingView)

Conclusion

Axelar's trajectory is being shaped by high-profile adoption against a backdrop of persistent security challenges. Will its role as XRPL's chosen bridge driver outweigh the market's sensitivity to cross-chain exploits?

What are people saying about AXL?

TLDR

Talk of a technical breakout is swirling, but the real chatter centers on Axelar becoming XRPL's chosen bridge. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. A trader eyes a weekly breakout targeting $0.77, signaling bullish momentum.

  2. Ripple's decision to rely on Axelar for XRPL bridging is seen as a major utility win.

  3. A common sentiment laments AXL's undervaluation versus meme coins despite its critical infrastructure role.

Deep Dive

1. @Cadela_Caolha: Weekly breakout pattern eyes $0.77 bullish

"#axl/usdt…Axelar is poised to break out from the descending channel midline on the weekly timeframe. A confirmed rally could propel the price toward $0.77" – @Cadela_Caolha (1.2K followers · 11 August 2026 19:30 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for AXL because it suggests traders are watching for a confirmed technical breakout on higher timeframes, which could attract momentum buying if the $0.77 target becomes a narrative.

2. @BellickSarge: Ripple's XRPL adopts Axelar for cross-chain bullish

"Everyone loves apps. Few appreciate infra. Axelar helping XRPL talk to other chains is huge for $XRP builders. 🙌 $AXL" – @BellickSarge (714 followers · 16 January 2026 01:45 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for AXL because it highlights Axelar's strategic role as the core interoperability layer for a major ecosystem like XRP Ledger, directly linking protocol success to token utility and demand.

3. @lazy0utis: Core infrastructure feels undervalued versus Doge mixed

"Same thing with me like I still don’t understand how $DOGE is sitting at $14B while $AXL…still feels undervalued to me." – @lazy0utis (6.9K followers · 12 April 2026 12:47 UTC) View original post What this means: This is mixed for AXL; it's bullish as it argues for a fundamental re-rating based on utility, but bearish in that it highlights the token's current struggle to capture value relative to its perceived importance in the market.

Conclusion

The consensus on AXL is bullish, driven by its pivotal role in XRPL's cross-chain strategy and technical breakout potential. However, underlying concerns about value capture persist. Watch the daily active addresses on Axelar to gauge real adoption from the XRPL integration.

What is next on AXL’s roadmap?

TLDR

Axelar's development continues with these milestones:

  1. XRPL EVM Sidechain Mainnet Launch (Upcoming) – Finalizing the bridge between XRP Ledger and over 60 connected blockchains.

  2. Stellar & Hedera Network Integrations (2026) – Expanding Axelar's cross-chain reach to include these major non-EVM ecosystems.

  3. Gas Pricing Overhaul (2026) – Improving fee accuracy for users to eliminate overpayments and refunds.

  4. Long-Term Expansion to Solana & Move Chains – Strategic vision to connect diverse consensus approaches like Aptos and Sui.

Deep Dive

1. XRPL EVM Sidechain Mainnet Launch (Upcoming)

Overview: The XRPL EVM Sidechain is live on testnet, with interop provided by Axelar (Axelar Blog). The next step is the mainnet launch, which will enable XRP and other tokens to move seamlessly between the XRP Ledger and over 60 other blockchains via Axelar's Interchain Token Service. This integration was highlighted as a key event for 20 July 2026 (CoinMarketCal Bot).

What this means: This is bullish for $AXL because it directly captures utility and potential fee revenue from bridging one of the largest cryptocurrency ecosystems. It expands Axelar's addressable market and reinforces its role as critical infrastructure.

2. Stellar & Hedera Network Integrations (2026)

Overview: Social media chatter and ecosystem updates point to upcoming integrations with Stellar ($XLM) and Hedera ($HBAR) (ChartNerdTA). These are key non-EVM chains, and connecting them would significantly broaden Axelar's interoperability footprint, enabling asset transfers across these networks and the existing connected chains.

What this means: This is bullish for $AXL because each new major chain integration increases network effects, total addressable volume, and the utility of the AXL token for securing these new connections. It mitigates reliance on any single ecosystem.

3. Gas Pricing Overhaul (2026)

Overview: A component of Axelar Gas Services, this upgrade aims to replace estimated gas fees with exact amounts users must pay (Axelar Blog). This follows a rework of the Executor service to improve reliability. The goal is a simpler, more predictable user experience without guesswork or refunds.

What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for $AXL. While it doesn't directly increase token demand, a superior user experience is crucial for mainstream adoption of cross-chain applications built on Axelar, which could drive long-term volume growth.

4. Long-Term Expansion to Solana & Move Chains

Overview: The 2024 roadmap listed integrating diverse consensus approaches, including Solana, Stellar, and Move-based chains like Aptos and Sui, as a goal for the coming year (Axelar Blog). While Stellar progress is noted, connections to Solana and Aptos/Sui represent a longer-term strategic vision to become the universal connector for all blockchain ecosystems.

What this means: This is a long-term bullish vision for $AXL. Successfully connecting high-throughput chains like Solana would be a major technical achievement, positioning Axelar as the definitive interoperability layer for the next generation of Web3, though execution and timeline risks remain.

Conclusion

Axelar's immediate roadmap is execution-focused, turning testnet integrations into mainnet utility for XRP Ledger while onboarding Stellar and Hedera to solidify its cross-chain dominance. The long-term vision hinges on conquering technical frontiers like Solana and Move-based ecosystems. Will Axelar's methodical expansion be enough to cement its position as the indispensable plumbing of a multi-chain world?

What is the latest update in AXL’s codebase?

TLDR

Axelar's codebase shows steady development focused on security, new chain integrations, and developer tooling.

  1. Amplifier Gateway Pause Function (04 Jun 2026) – Adds an emergency pause feature to the core gateway contract, controlled by operators.

  2. Maestro Portal & RPC Updates (26 Mar 2025) – Integrates Flow blockchain and updates RPC endpoints for improved reliability.

  3. SDK Gas & Amplifier Support (18 Oct 2024) – Fixes a UI gas error and adds foundational support for new Amplifier chains.

Deep Dive

1. Amplifier Gateway Pause Function (04 Jun 2026)

Overview: This update to the core smart contract SDK (axelar-gmp-sdk-solidity) introduces a critical security feature. It allows the gateway contract's owner or operator to temporarily pause cross-chain message processing, providing a safeguard during emergencies.

The minor release (v6.2.0) adds a setPauseStatus(bool) function to the AxelarAmplifierGateway contract. While paused, the gateway will reject new incoming callContract requests. Crucially, the contract owner retains the ability to consume already-approved messages, allowing for a controlled shutdown and restart process. This is a proactive measure to mitigate potential exploit risks.

What this means: This is bullish for $AXL because it directly enhances the security and resilience of the entire network. For users and developers, it means greater confidence that the protocol can react swiftly to unforeseen issues, protecting bridged assets. It represents a maturing infrastructure focused on institutional-grade safety. (Source)

2. Maestro Portal & RPC Updates (26 Mar 2025)

Overview: This patch to the Maestro application (v0.4.1) focuses on improving the user experience for the Interchain Token Service (ITS) portal. It adds support for a new blockchain and strengthens connection reliability.

The update integrates the Flow blockchain into the portal, expanding the ecosystem of supported networks. It also changes the default RPC (Remote Procedure Call) URL for Fantom mainnet and updates dependencies, which generally translates to better performance and fewer connection dropouts for users interacting with the service.

What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for $AXL as it demonstrates ongoing ecosystem growth and refinement. For token creators and users, it means access to more blockchains and a smoother, more reliable experience when managing interchain tokens, which could drive higher platform usage over time. (Source)

3. SDK Gas & Amplifier Support (18 Oct 2024)

Overview: This major SDK release (v0.17.0) delivered two key improvements: fixing a user interface bug and laying the groundwork for future protocol upgrades.

It resolved an error that occurred when users tried to add gas for Cosmos source chains directly from the Axelarscan UI. More significantly, it updated the SDK to support Amplifier chains, which are part of Axelar's next-generation architecture designed for greater scalability and security.

What this means: This is bullish for $AXL because it fixes a point of friction for users and prepares the developer ecosystem for Axelar's important technical roadmap. Smoother user interactions and forward-looking developer tools are essential for fostering adoption and building on the network's core value proposition of seamless cross-chain communication. (Source)

Conclusion

Axelar's recent codebase activity underscores a dual focus on hardening core security with features like gateway pausing and expanding ecosystem reach through integrations like Flow. This trajectory of building robust infrastructure while enhancing developer and user tooling is foundational for long-term network utility. Will the upcoming Amplifier protocol deployment catalyze the next wave of cross-chain application development?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.