specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Axelar
providerId: axelar
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - Blockchain
  - Cross-Chain
  - Interoperability
  - Web3
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
description: >-
  FOCUS-aligned FinOps for Axelar. The dominant developer cost is on-chain gas
  relaying fees paid via the AxelarGasService contract when initiating GMP
  calls or token transfers. These fees are variable, denominated in AXL or the
  native gas token, and scale with destination chain gas prices and payload
  complexity. The Axelarscan REST APIs (network stats, validator, token
  transfer, GMP) are publicly free. The AxelarJS SDK is MIT-licensed and
  carries no licensing cost. Cost attribution is typically per cross-chain
  transaction, making usage-based allocation straightforward. This artifact
  remains reconciled:false until Axelar publishes an official billing dashboard
  or FOCUS-compliant cost export.
sources:
  - https://axelar.network/
  - https://docs.axelar.dev/
  - https://docs.axelarscan.io/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Axelar Foundation
serviceCategory: Blockchain Infrastructure
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: On-Chain Gas Fees (Variable) + Free REST APIs
  billingFrequency: Per-Transaction (on-chain)
  billingCurrency: AXL / native chain token
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
    - Tax
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Axelar Network
  ServiceCategory: Blockchain Infrastructure
  ProviderName: Axelar
  PublisherName: Axelar Foundation
  InvoiceIssuerName: Axelar Foundation
  BillingCurrency: AXL
  ChargeCategory: Usage
meters:
  - name: gmp_relay_fee
    description: >-
      On-chain gas fee paid to the AxelarGasService contract for relaying a
      GMP callContract() or callContractWithToken() call to the destination
      chain. Estimated via AxelarQueryAPI.estimateGasFee() before submission.
    unit: cross_chain_call
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - source_chain
      - destination_chain
      - gas_token
  - name: token_transfer_fee
    description: >-
      On-chain fee for cross-chain token transfers via the Axelar gateway or
      Interchain Token Service (ITS). Includes Axelar network fee and
      destination chain execution gas.
    unit: transfer
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - source_chain
      - destination_chain
      - asset_denom
  - name: axelarscan_api_requests
    description: >-
      REST API calls to api.axelarscan.io for network stats, validator data,
      token transfer status, and GMP data. No direct monetary cost; included
      for visibility and capacity planning.
    unit: request
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - api_category
      - environment
  - name: axl_staking_cost
    description: >-
      Opportunity cost of AXL tokens staked to validators for network security
      participation. Not a direct billed line item but relevant for treasury
      FinOps tracking.
    unit: axl_token
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - validator_address
      - delegator_address
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: >-
      Track on-chain gas expenditure per application by logging the transaction
      hash from each AxelarGasService payment against your internal cost center.
      Use the GMP API and Token Transfer API to correlate relayed transactions
      with gas paid and identify failed or overpaid calls.
  - name: Allocation
    description: >-
      Tag cross-chain calls at the application layer with a per-product or
      per-team identifier in the payload or via a dedicated gas-payment wallet
      per team. Since there is no centralized Axelar billing dashboard, on-chain
      wallet segregation is the primary cost allocation mechanism.
  - name: Optimization
    description: >-
      Use AxelarQueryAPI.estimateGasFee() before every GMP call to avoid
      overpaying. Batch token transfers where possible to amortize per-call
      fixed fees. Monitor the GMP API for underfunded transactions and use
      addNativeGas() for targeted top-ups rather than blanket gas overpayment.
      Run integration testing on the Axelar testnet to avoid burning real AXL
      or ETH on development calls.
  - name: Accountability
    description: >-
      Assign a Web3 treasury owner responsible for monitoring the gas-payment
      wallets. Set alert thresholds on wallet balances and on-chain spend rates.
      Review gas usage after major product launches or chain expansions to
      recalibrate gas budgets.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com