Axelar, a cross-chain protocol, has teamed up with Microsoft in a strategic partnership aimed at bridging the gap between public and private blockchains. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as Axelar becomes the first cross-chain protocol to join Microsoft’s Azure marketplace, the tech giant’s online store for developers.
Through this partnership, Axelar gains access to Azure’s vast user base, which comprises tens of thousands of companies utilizing Microsoft’s cloud services. Galen Moore, spokesperson for Axelar, emphasized the potential of this initiative in integrating traditional internet technologies with public blockchains, offering meaningful solutions for users.
The integration will provide developers with essential tools such as the AxelarJS software development kit (SDK) and Axelar’s general message passing capability. These resources empower developers to seamlessly integrate functionalities across different blockchains and databases, independent of their underlying infrastructure.
Furthermore, Axelar and Microsoft plan to explore the integration of public and private blockchains to support artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Sergey Gorbunov, co-founder of Axelar, highlighted the importance of establishing trust in AI through multiple layers. By combining private and public blockchains, Gorbunov explained that blockchains can ensure data integrity, mitigate tampering risks, and maintain jurisdiction-specific privacy, thereby enabling trust in AI models.
Microsoft’s Azure marketplace currently hosts over 25,000 applications and services for developers and businesses. A search on the platform reveals the availability of over 200 blockchain-powered solutions, showcasing the increasing adoption and interest in blockchain technology.
Axelar, with its support for 43 blockchains, successfully raised $35 million in Series B funding last year, elevating its market value beyond $1 billion. Prominent participants in the funding round included Dragonfly Capital, Polychain Capital, and North Island Ventures.
As the collaboration between Axelar and Microsoft unfolds, it holds the potential to enhance trust in AI systems by leveraging the advantages of blockchain technology. By enabling interoperability between blockchains and facilitating secure data exchange, this partnership brings hybrid blockchain solutions closer to reality.