Stargate Glossary
A
API Layer
The unified interface provided by Stargate for developers and applications to initiate cross-chain asset transfers, abstracting the complexity of the underlying Protocol Layer and various Routes.
Asset
A digital representation of value that can be transferred, such as a cryptocurrency or token.
Asset Standards Layer
The architectural layer within Stargate responsible for ensuring compatibility with various token standards (e.g., ERC20, OFT), enabling Stargate to interact natively with diverse asset types.
B
Bridging
The process of transferring assets or data from one blockchain network to another.
Bridging Trilemma
A concept describing the difficulty for traditional bridges to simultaneously achieve: 1) Instant guaranteed finality, 2) Unified liquidity, and 3) Native asset transactions. Stargate aims to solve this.
Burn/Mint
A common mechanism for cross-chain asset transfers where tokens are destroyed (burned) on the source chain and an equivalent amount is created (minted) on the destination chain, maintaining a consistent total supply.
C
Capital Efficiency
A measure of how effectively liquidity is utilized within a protocol. Stargate aims for high capital efficiency through its unified liquidity pools.
CCTP
A protocol developed by Circle for facilitating native USDC transfers between supported blockchains. Stargate utilizes CCTP as a specific Route for USDC.
Composability
The ability for a cross-chain transfer to be combined with smart contract interactions on both the source and destination chains within a single, atomic transaction or user flow.
Consensus Layer
The foundational layer of individual blockchain networks (e.g., Ethereum, Arbitrum) that Stargate connects, upon which their own consensus mechanisms operate. Stargate itself is consensus-agnostic.
D
Delta (Δ) Algorithm
Stargate V1’s proprietary resource balancing algorithm that manages its unified liquidity pools, enabling efficient native asset transfers with instant guaranteed finality by using “soft partitions” of liquidity.
Destination Chain
The blockchain network to which an asset is being transferred.
E
ERC20
A widely adopted technical standard for fungible tokens on EVM-compatible blockchains.
Execution Environment
The environment in which smart contracts run, such as the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
F
Finality
A core feature of Stargate’s native routes, ensuring that once a transfer is committed on the source chain, the corresponding native assets are guaranteed to be available on the destination chain without delay or uncertainty.
Fragmentation
The state where liquidity for the same asset is split across multiple, isolated pools on different chains or bridges, reducing capital efficiency. Stargate aims to reduce this.
G
Gas Tokens
The native cryptocurrency of a blockchain used to pay for transaction fees (e.g., ETH, AVAX, MATIC). Stargate supports their cross-chain transfer via specialized OFT Gas Adapters.
Governance
The process by which decisions regarding a protocol’s development, upgrades, and parameters are made.
H
Hydra
A specific mechanism within Stargate V2 designed to extend Stargate’s unified liquidity access to newer chains. It typically involves locking native assets in Stargate’s core pools on established chains and minting corresponding OFT standard representations on the Hydra-enabled chains.
L
LayerZero
An omnichain interoperability protocol providing secure and reliable generic messaging between blockchains. It serves as the primary underlying messaging protocol for Stargate’s native V1/V2 routes and the OFT Route.
Liquidity
The availability of assets in a protocol that can be readily exchanged or transferred.
Liquidity Pool
A smart contract holding reserves of tokens, used by protocols like Stargate to facilitate swaps and transfers.
Lock/Release
A mechanism for cross-chain asset transfers where tokens are locked in a smart contract on the source chain and a corresponding representation (often an OFT) is minted/released on the destination chain. Returning the asset involves locking the representation and releasing the original tokens.
M
Messaging Layer
The underlying communication infrastructure (e.g., LayerZero, Circle CCTP) used by Stargate Routes to securely transmit information and instructions between different blockchains.
Mesh
The specific configuration of available destination networks and compatible Routes defined for a particular asset within the Stargate ecosystem.
N
Native Asset
An asset that exists natively on a particular blockchain, as opposed to a wrapped or synthetic representation bridged from another chain. Stargate prioritizes native asset transfers.
O
OFT
A token standard, often built upon LayerZero, that enables a token to possess inherent cross-chain capabilities, maintaining a unified identity across multiple blockchains.
OFT Adapter
An external smart contract used in conjunction with an existing token to make it OFT-compliant. Types include Lockbox Adapter (locks original token), MABA (Mint and Burn Adapter, calls authorized mint/burn), and Gas Adapter (for native gas tokens).
OFT Route
A Stargate transfer strategy that directly interacts with OFT-compliant token contracts (native or adapter-based) using LayerZero messaging.
Omnichain
A term describing technologies or protocols designed to operate and interoperate across multiple, diverse blockchain networks.
P
Protocol Layer
The core smart contracts and defined Routes within Stargate that manage liquidity and execute the underlying logic of cross-chain transfers.
Proposal
A formal suggestion submitted to the Stargate DAO for discussion and voting, potentially leading to changes in the protocol.
Q
Quorum
The minimum amount of voting power (veSTG) that must participate in a Stargate DAO vote for the result to be considered valid.
R
Route
A specific implementation or strategy Stargate uses to execute a cross-chain asset transfer, often tailored to particular asset types or standards and utilizing an underlying messaging protocol. Examples include Stargate V1, Stargate V2/Hydra, OFT Route, and CCTP Route.
S
Smart Contract
A self-executing contract with the terms of the agreement directly written into lines of code, residing on a blockchain.
Snapshot
An off-chain voting platform commonly used by DAOs, including Stargate DAO, for polling token holders on proposals.
Source Chain
The blockchain network from which an asset is being transferred.
Stargate DAO
The decentralized autonomous organization, composed of veSTG holders, responsible for governing the Stargate protocol.
Stargate Foundation
An entity that acts as a service provider for the Stargate DAO, often involved in implementing approved proposals.
Stargate V1
Stargate’s original native routing mechanism, utilizing unified liquidity pools, the Delta (Δ) algorithm, and LayerZero messaging for native asset transfers with instant guaranteed finality.
Stargate V2
An optimized and enhanced iteration of Stargate’s native routing infrastructure, building upon V1 principles and often incorporating mechanisms like Hydra to extend liquidity access.
STG
The native governance and utility token of the Stargate protocol.
U
Unified Liquidity Pools
A core feature of Stargate’s native V1/V2 routes, where liquidity for a specific asset (e.g., USDC) is held in a single pool shared across all connected chains, rather than fragmented into pair-wise or chain-specific pools.
V
veSTG
The non-transferable token representing voting power in the Stargate DAO, obtained by staking locked STG tokens. Its balance decays linearly as the lock period decreases.
W
Wrapped Asset
A token that represents an asset from another blockchain, typically created by locking the original asset and minting a synthetic representation on the destination chain. Stargate aims to minimize reliance on these.