Redeem AXL from an EVM chain

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

Prerequisites

Skill level: intermediate
Prerequisites for Send AXL to an EVM chain

Redeem AXL tokens from an EVM chain

Link your Axelar my_account account to a new temporary deposit address on the EVM chain:

axelard tx evm link {EVM_CHAIN} axelarnet {MY_ADDR} uaxl --from my_account

Output should contain

successfully linked {EVM_TEMP_ADDR} and {MY_ADDR}

Optional: query your new {EVM_TEMP_ADDR}:

axelard q nexus latest-deposit-address {EVM_CHAIN} axelarnet {MY_ADDR}

Use MetaMask to send some wrapped AXL tokens on {EVM_CHAIN} to the new temporary deposit address {EVM_TEMP_ADDR}. Save the transaction hash {EVM_TX_HASH} for later.

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Danger: Send only Axelar ERC20 tokens to {EVM_TEMP_ADDR}. Any other token sent to {EVM_TEMP_ADDR} will be lost.

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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 Axelar my_account account AXL token balance as per Basic node management.

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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.

Do not proceed to the next step until you have waited for sufficiently many block confirmations on the EVM chain. Block confirmation minimums can be found at Testnet Resources, Mainnet Resources.

Confirm the EVM chain transaction on Axelar.

axelard tx evm confirm-erc20-deposit {EVM_CHAIN} {EVM_TX_HASH} {AMOUNT} {EVM_TEMP_ADDR} --from my_account

Wait for confirmation on Axelar.

Optional: Search the axelar-core logs for confirmation:

tail -f $AXELARD_HOME/logs/axelard.log | grep -a -e "deposit confirmation"

Create and sign pending transfers for {EVM_CHAIN}.

axelard tx evm create-burn-tokens {EVM_CHAIN} --from my_address
axelard tx evm sign-commands {EVM_CHAIN} --from my_address

Output should contain

successfully started signing batched commands with ID {BATCH_ID}

Get the execute_data:

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:

1. Documentation

Testnet Resources, Mainnet Resources.

2. Terminal

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!)

Optional: Check your Axelar my_account account AXL token balance as per Basic node management so that you can observe balance change.

Execute the pending transfer:

axelard tx axelarnet execute-pending-transfers --from my_account

You should see the redeemed {AMOUNT} of AXL token (minus transaction fees) in your Axelar my_account account.

Congratulations! You have redeemed AXL tokens from the external EVM chain back to Axelar!