Axelar Network Remains Independent as Interoperability Talent Joins Circle
Stablecoin issuer Circle has reached an agreement to acquire the Interop Labs team and its proprietary intellectual property, strengthening its push into crosschain infrastructure while leaving the Axelar Network fully independent. The transaction, expected to close in early 2026, brings a key interoperability engineering group into Circle’s infrastructure business without affecting Axelar’s community governance or token.
Interop Labs is the original developer behind the Axelar Network, a decentralized interoperability protocol enabling secure crosschain messaging and asset transfers across multiple blockchains. Under the agreement, Axelar’s open-source development will continue under another contributor, ensuring continuity for the network and its users.
The acquired technology will be integrated into Circle’s Arc blockchain and its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), a core component of Circle’s multichain strategy. The move is expected to improve crosschain functionality for stablecoins, enhance developer tooling, and accelerate the deployment of multichain applications built on Circle’s infrastructure.
Circle issues USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, accounting for roughly one-quarter of the global stablecoin market. The acquisition aligns with Circle’s broader expansion strategy, which includes recent moves into tokenized real-world assets and blockchain-native financial products.
The deal reflects a broader trend of stablecoin issuers acquiring specialized infrastructure teams to scale interoperability, reduce friction between blockchains, and position themselves at the center of onchain settlement as multichain adoption accelerates.
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