Axelar token investors cry foul as Circle’s Interop Labs acquisition cuts them out

Core Insights - Investors in Axelar are upset following Circle's acquisition of Interop Labs, the leading developer of Axelar, which does not include the Axelar network or its $120 million AXL token, leading to feelings of betrayal among investors [1][2] - The acquisition has sparked discussions on the misalignment of interests between token holders and for-profit firms developing blockchain projects, a recurring issue in the industry [3] - Despite the negative sentiment, some industry experts view the acquisition as standard behavior in the crypto space, emphasizing the need for company leadership to advocate for investor interests [6] Company Overview - Axelar is a decentralized crypto bridge that facilitates the transfer of tokens and information across different blockchains, founded in 2020 and has raised nearly $94 million in venture funding, including $50 million from an initial coin offering in 2022 [5] - The AXL token experienced a significant rally of approximately 45% prior to the acquisition announcement but retraced all gains once the details were revealed [2][3] - Axelar was previously regarded as a promising crypto bridging protocol, achieving an all-time high market value of nearly $1.4 billion in March 2024 [7]