Send AXL to an EVM chain

Transfer AXL tokens from Axelar to an EVM chain using the terminal.

  • Skill level: intermediate
  • You have downloaded the Axelar blockchain and are comfortable with Basic node management.
  • Your Axelar node has an account named my_account that you control. Let {MY_ADDR} denote the address of your my_account account.
  • Select an EVM chain {EVM_CHAIN} from: Ethereum, Avalanche, Fantom, Moonbeam, Polygon.
  • Complete steps from MetaMask for EVM chains to connect your MetaMask to {EVM_CHAIN}.
  • You need both AXL tokens and {EVM_CHAIN} tokens to pay transaction fees.
    • Testnet:
    • Mainnet: You are responsible for obtaining your own tokens.
  • {EVM_DEST_ADDR} is an address controlled by you on the external EVM chain {EVM_CHAIN}. (In your MetaMask, for example.) This is where your AXL tokens will be sent.
  • {AMOUNT} is the amount of AXL tokens you wish to transfer, denominated in uaxl. Recall that 1 AXL = 1000000 uaxl. See Testnet Resources or Mainnet Resources for minimum transfer amounts.

Optional: Verify that your my_account account has sufficient balance as per Basic node management.

Link your {EVM_DEST_ADDR} to a new temporary deposit address on Axelar:

Terminal window
axelard tx axelarnet link {EVM_CHAIN} {EVM_DEST_ADDR} uaxl --from my_account

Output should contain

successfully linked {AXELAR_TEMP_ADDR} and {EVM_DEST_ADDR}

Optional: query your new {AXELAR_TEMP_ADDR}:

Terminal window
axelard q nexus latest-deposit-address axelarnet {EVM_CHAIN} {EVM_DEST_ADDR}

Send {AMOUNT} of uaxl to the new {AXELAR_TEMP_ADDR}.

Terminal window
axelard tx bank send my_account {AXELAR_TEMP_ADDR} {AMOUNT}uaxl --from my_account

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Note: Third-party monitoring tools will automatically complete the remaining steps of this process.

Wait a few minutes then check your MetaMask for the AXL tokens. Don’t forget to import the AXL token into MetaMask so you can see your balance as described in MetaMask for EVM chains.

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Caution: If you attempt the remaining steps while third-party monitoring tools are active then your commands are likely to conflict with third-party commands. In this case you are likely to observe errors. Deeper investigation might be needed to resolve conflicts and complete the transfer.

The remaining steps are needed only if there are no active third-party monitoring tools and you wish to complete the process manually.

Confirm the deposit transaction. Look for {TX_HASH} in the output of the previous command.

Terminal window
axelard tx axelarnet confirm-deposit {TX_HASH} {AMOUNT}uaxl {AXELAR_TEMP_ADDR} --from my_account

Create and sign pending transfers for {EVM_CHAIN}.

Terminal window
axelard tx evm create-pending-transfers {EVM_CHAIN} --from my_account
axelard tx evm sign-commands {EVM_CHAIN} --from my_account

Output should contain

successfully started signing batched commands with ID {BATCH_ID}

Get the execute_data:

Terminal window
axelard q evm batched-commands {EVM_CHAIN} {BATCH_ID}

Wait for status: BATCHED_COMMANDS_STATUS_SIGNED and copy the execute_data.

Use MetaMask to send a transaction on {EVM_CHAIN} with the execute_data to the Axelar gateway contract address {GATEWAY_ADDR}.

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Danger: Post your transaction to the correct chain! Set your MetaMask network to {EVM_CHAIN}.

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Caution: Manually increase the gas limit to 5 million gas (5000000). If you don’t do this then the transaction will fail due to insufficient gas and you will not receive your tokens.

Before you click “confirm”: select “EDIT”, change “Gas Limit” to 5000000, and “Save”

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Tip: Learn the Axelar {GATEWAY_ADDR} for {EVM_CHAIN} in two ways:

Testnet Resources, Mainnet Resources.

Terminal window
axelard q evm gateway-address {EVM_CHAIN}

To send a transaction to {GATEWAY_ADDR} using MetaMask: paste hex from execute_data above into “Hex Data” field. (Do not send tokens!)

You should see {AMOUNT} of asset AXL in your {EVM_CHAIN} MetaMask account.

Congratulations! You have transferred AXL tokens from Axelar to an external EVM chain!

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