Stargate

Stargate is a composable cross-chain liquidity transport protocol enabling native asset transfers — USDC, USDT, ETH, BTC, and Omnichain Fungible Tokens — across more than 80 blockchains without wrapping. Powered by LayerZero messaging, the protocol addressed a persistent weakness in multi-chain DeFi: bridges that fragment liquidity through wrapped tokens or expose users to settlement failure. Since launch in March 2022, Stargate has processed over $65 billion in on-chain transfers.

How Stargate Works

Where most bridges lock assets on one chain and mint synthetic wrapped versions on the destination, Stargate deploys unified liquidity pools on each supported network. The protocol's Delta algorithm reallocates credits dynamically so the receiving-side pool can settle natively. Users receive the canonical asset with instant guaranteed finality; transfers cannot revert once committed on the source chain.

Stargate V2 replaced manual credit allocation with an AI Planning Module that monitors transfer volumes in real time and redistributes credits automatically. V2 introduced two execution modes: Taxi Mode settles immediately and supports composability via an embedded message field; Bus Mode bundles multiple transfers into a single LayerZero message for lower gas costs. StargatePool contracts hold native assets on established chains; StargateOFT contracts serve newer chains via the Hydra mechanism, which extends pool liquidity without bootstrapping fresh reserves on each new network.

Supported Chains and Solana

Stargate operates on more than 80 networks including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, Base, Solana, Injective, Manta, IOTA, Abstract, and XDC. The protocol focuses on USDC, USDT, ETH, BTC, and project-specific OFTs. Standard fees are 0.06% per transfer (0.045% to liquidity providers, 0.015% to the protocol), plus LayerZero messaging costs. Solana support arrived through LayerZero V2 and the OFT standard; users can bridge tokens such as PENGU between Solana and other connected chains without a dedicated Solana native-asset pool.

Governance and the LayerZero Acquisition

Stargate originally used a veToken model: STG locked to receive veSTG granted voting power and protocol revenue share. That structure ended August 2025 when LayerZero Foundation proposed acquiring the protocol for $110 million. The offer converted all circulating STG to ZRO at a fixed rate of 0.08634 ZRO per STG — valuing each STG at approximately $0.167. The Stargate DAO dissolved and governance passed to LayerZero Foundation. As compensation, veSTG stakers received 50% of protocol revenue for six months; after that window closed in February 2026, all revenue moved to ZRO buybacks.

Wormhole Foundation made a competing $120 million all-cash offer, but Stargate's moderators declined to pause voting for evaluation. The LayerZero proposal passed on August 24, 2025 with approximately 95% approval across 15,100 addresses, though two addresses controlled over 50% of the yes vote. STG holders can still convert to ZRO at the fixed rate with no expiration.

After the Acquisition

Stargate continues operating under its brand without user disruption. In December 2025, Stargate partnered with Ondo Finance to serve as the primary bridge for tokenized real-world assets — equities and ETFs — across multiple chains. NEAR Intents and IOTA Mainnet also joined as supported networks, and $20 million was approved for an intent-based execution engine targeting Q1 2026. Combined TVL across V1 and V2 pools stands at approximately $112 million, with V2 alone at roughly $65 million. Protocol fees run at an annualized pace of around $1.7 million.