Developers Node Operators Validators
Developers
Introduction
Cross-Chain Token Transfer
Introduction
Interchain Tokens
Introduction
Quick Start
No CodeProgrammatic
Token ManagerInterchain Token ExecutableFlow Limit
Developer Guides
Programmatically Create a TokenProgrammatically Create a Canonical TokenLink Custom Tokens Into Interchain Tokens
GlossaryRoadmap
General Message Passing
IntroductionExamplesSend MessagesSend Messages with TokensMonitor Transaction StateAxelar CommandIDAxelar ExecutableVerify GMP Transaction
Debug
Error MessagesDebug a Smart ContractFork Mainnet for Local TestingTransaction Recovery
Developer Guides
Cross-Chain Swaps with CCTPHello World GMP Example
Express Service
EVM Relayer
Gas Service
IntroductionEstimate and Pay GasIncrease GasRefund GasSpecify Gas Refund AddressTransaction StatesTransaction PricingOn-Chain Estimation
AxelarJS SDK
IntroductionToken Transfer via Deposit AddressGMP Transaction Status and RecoveryAxelar Query API
Cosmos GMP
Introduction
Developer Guides
Cross-Chain Messaging: EVM to Cosmos
Indexers
IntroductionSubQuery
Chain and Contract Reference
Mainnet Chain NamesMainnet Contract AddressesTestnet Chain NamesTestnet Contract Addresses
Amplifier
IntroductionRoadmapIntegration OverviewIntegrate a ChainGovernance ProposalsRelay MessagesAdd RewardsGMP with Amplifier ExampleCommon Error Messages
Chain RPC Setup
Configure companion processes
Solidity UtilitiesSandbox
Contract and SDK reference
InterchainTokenServiceInterchainTokenFactoryTokenManagerAxelarGateway AxelarGasServiceAxelarExecutableAxelarJS SDK
Resources
Contract Addresses
MainnetTestnet
RPCs
RPC EndpointsFree Public RPC
Static Configs
Static Configs
Tokens
Stake AXL TokensWrap / Unwrap Tokens
Axelarscan
Add Account to Axelarscan
Misc
SatelliteMetaMaskAdd Network to Keplr Wallet
Upgrades
Mainnet axelard
v1.0v0.35v0.34v0.33v0.31v0.29v0.28v0.26v0.24v0.21v0.20v0.19v0.18v0.17v0.16
Testnet axelard
v1.0v0.35v0.34v0.33v0.32v0.31v0.29v0.28v0.27v0.26v0.25v0.24v0.23v0.22v0.21v0.20v0.19v0.18v0.17
Community
Community Pool Proposals
Onboard Your IBC chainBug Bounty
Learn more about Axelar
Crosschain Message FlowaxlUSDCSecurity OverviewInterchain Transaction DurationEVM Contract Governance
CLI
IntroductionReferenceSend UST to an EVM chainRedeem UST from an EVM chainSend AXL to an EVM chainRedeem AXL from an EVM chain

Interchain Token Service Roadmap

Background

The Interchain Token Service (ITS) was released to make custom ERC-20 token transfers easier across different blockchains. Unlike bridged tokens, Interchain Tokens are sent between chains via General Message Passing (GMP) rather than minted on the Axelar chain itself.

The InterchainTokenService contract deploys a TokenManager to handle multichain token operations such as minting, burning, and locking for every chain that a token is registered to. Tokens are tracked through a unique interchainTokenId that persists across these chains.

Types of Interchain Tokens

There are three types of Interchain Token integrations:

  • Standardized Interchain Tokens — ERC-20 tokens that are deployed through the Interchain Token Service from a contract that implements the IInterchainToken and IStandardizedToken interfaces. They have the same address on all chains, with native bridging and no lock/unlock functionality.
  • Canonical Interchain Tokens — Tokens originally deployed on one chain that now have interchain capabilities through ITS. ITS wraps the token on the original chain to give it these capabilities, then duplicates the wrapped original on all other chains.
  • Custom tokens — Interchain Tokens that are designed to serve specific use cases within the blockchain ecosystem. They are deployed with custom functionality along with the required minting and burning TokenManager functions.

The future of ITS

Migration to governance

The InterchainTokenService contract will soon be managed through EVM contract governance.

ITS Hub

The new Interchain Amplifier provide a major overhaul opportunity for the Interchain Token Service. Interop Labs is developing a new ITS Hub that will serve as the homebase for the Interchain Token Service on the Axelar blockchain. All token transfers between ITS-enabled chains will be routed through this hub. The ITS hub extends ITS capabilities such as tracking balances and flow limits to all chains integrating with the Interchain Amplifier, including ones not built with smart contracts.

Edit this page