Stargate Finance Review

At A Glance

Who Is Stargate Finance Best For?

  Best for: DeFi users seeking fast, secure cross-chain asset transfers with native token support and competitive fees across multiple blockchains.

Our Take

  Skip if: You only need basic bridging for one or two specific networks, prefer completely decentralized governance structures, or want extensive asset variety beyond major cryptocurrencies. Stargate Finance stands out for one-transaction transfers of native USDC, USDT and ETH between major EVM chains. Its docs list contracts on 46 chains: on its 18 pool chains you receive the native asset rather than a wrapped token, and on 28 Hydra chains it mints a token instead. Solana is not supported. However, Stargate is shrinking. Its value locked fell from $504 million to $100 million in a year (DefiLlama, 9 October 2026), it removed chains and pools in 2026, and since LayerZero bought the protocol in August 2025 the STG token is being retired (it converts to ZRO only until 15 December 2026). Limited asset variety compared to some competitors may also concern certain users.

Skrumble Scoring Breakdown

Our scoring reflects Stargate's clean exploit record and native-asset pools, balanced against its shrinking liquidity, the owner's power to adjust pool credits and limited asset diversity compared to some competitors. See our full crypto bridge scoring methodology here.

What is Stargate Finance and How Does it Work?

Stargate Finance is a liquidity bridge built on LayerZero messaging that lets users transfer assets between different blockchains and layer-2 networks in one transaction. Since 1 October 2026 every transfer goes by Stargate Taxi, which averaged about one minute on L2BEAT. Unlike bridges that split liquidity into separate pools for each route, Stargate keeps unified liquidity pools for USDC, USDT and ETH, so on its pool chains you receive the native asset rather than a wrapped copy. On chains without a pool, its Hydra system uses lock-and-mint instead and you receive a minted token. The protocol uses the Delta Algorithm to maintain balanced liquidity across chains. This algorithm dynamically allocates liquidity across various public chains while maintaining soft-partitioned liquidity pools on each chain.

Stargate Finance Review: Unique Features

Governance After the LayerZero Acquisition

Stargate used to give STG stakers veSTG (vote-escrowed STG) voting power over the protocol. That model no longer applies, because Stargate DAO holders approved LayerZero's acquisition in August 2025, with nearly 95% voting For, and the Stargate DAO was dissolved. Stargate now operates within LayerZero. STG holders can convert to ZRO at 0.08634 ZRO per STG until 15 December 2026.

Cross-Chain Transfer Process

The user experience prioritizes simplicity:

1. Select Source Chain: Choose your current blockchain
2. Select Destination Chain: Pick target network
3. Enter Amount: Specify transfer quantity
4. Review Fees: Dynamic fees are calculated by the AI Planning Module on a per-pathway basis
5. Execute Transfer: Confirm one transaction; Stargate Taxi delivers it in about one minute on average

Liquidity Provision

Users can provide stablecoin liquidity to Stargate's pools. The STG emissions and flat fee split described in earlier versions of this review no longer apply, because STG is being retired and Stargate V2 sets fees per route. We have not verified current liquidity provider rewards, so check the pool in the app before you deposit.

Cryptocurrencies Available on Stargate Finance

Stargate Finance's shared pools hold USDC, USDT and ETH, and on Hydra chains it issues OFTs (Omnichain Fungible Tokens) instead. The protocol focuses on major, high-liquidity assets rather than extensive altcoin support.

Networks Available on Stargate Finance

Stargate's docs list V2 mainnet contracts on 46 chains (18 pool chains and 28 Hydra chains); Solana is not among them. Pool chains include:

• Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche
• Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Linea
• Mantle, Scroll, Sonic, Unichain, Soneium

Recent changes (2026):

• Unsupported chains removed on 28 April 2026 (L2BEAT)
• Several remote pools deprecated on 24 September 2026, so check that your chain and token are still listed before you bridge

Fees

Current Stargate docs do not state a flat 0.06% fee. Fees are dynamic and set by the AI Planning Module on a per-pathway basis. A transfer out of a pool can pay a treasury fee or earn a rebalancing reward, and a Hydra transfer can pay a treasury fee. The app shows the fee for your route before you confirm; Stargate's public quote API is deprecated, so we could not capture an independent quote. Additional Fees:

• Rebalancing Fees: Dynamic fees based on liquidity pool imbalances
• Gas Fees: Network-specific costs (varies by blockchain)

LayerZero Messaging Fees: Required for cross-chain communication   Reality Check: Ethereum transactions can be expensive during network congestion, potentially making small transfers uneconomical.

Is Stargate Finance Safe?

Stargate V2 was audited by Zellic and OtterSec, and the original V1 contracts by Quantstamp, Zokyo, Zellic and Ackee. DefiLlama lists no protocol exploit; the only incident it records is a $43,000 social-engineering phishing case in December 2023. Security Features:

• LayerZero V2 Verification: Decentralized verifier networks (DVNs) check each message. Stargate's docs name the Stargate DVN and Nethermind; a required DVN was added on 21 May 2026, and the current verifier count is not documented
• Admin Multisig: A 5-of-7 multisig administers the contracts (L2BEAT)
• Bug Bounty Program: Merged into LayerZero's program; LayerZero raised its V2 bounty to $3.5 million
• Owner Powers: Changes no longer go through a DAO vote. Since a June 2026 upgrade the owner can adjust pool credits without LayerZero verification, and on 1 October 2026 it minted credits manually while deprecating pools (L2BEAT)

The protocol relies on LayerZero V2's verifier networks and executors for cross-chain security, though this creates dependencies on external infrastructure. For context, the April 2026 drain of Kelp's rsETH bridge (about $292 million) went through LayerZero but came from Kelp's own one-verifier setup, not from Stargate, and LayerZero now refuses to attest for apps with a single verifier.

Stargate Finance Native Token (STG)

STG was Stargate's governance token, also used for staking, fee sharing and liquidity mining rewards; those uses no longer apply now that the Stargate DAO has been dissolved. Major Development: Stargate DAO holders approved LayerZero's acquisition in August 2025, with nearly 95% voting For, in a deal worth about $120 million in ZRO; Wormhole had made a late $120 million counter-bid. STG converts to ZRO at 0.08634 ZRO per STG until 15 December 2026.

Things We Do Not Like about Stargate Finance

Limited Asset Selection: Stargate focuses on major cryptocurrencies, restricting users wanting to bridge smaller altcoins or experimental tokens. Shrinking Liquidity: Value locked fell from $504 million to $100 million in a year (DefiLlama, 9 October 2026), and Stargate removed chains and pools in 2026. Owner Control: LayerZero has owned Stargate since August 2025, and since a June 2026 upgrade the owner can adjust pool credits without LayerZero verification. Ethereum Gas Dependency: High fees on Ethereum can make small transfers cost-prohibitive. LayerZero Dependency: The protocol's reliance on LayerZero infrastructure creates potential single points of failure. Complex Architecture: Technical complexity may create barriers for some users compared to simpler crypto bridge solutions.

Recent Developments

LayerZero Acquisition Approved: Stargate DAO holders approved the acquisition in August 2025 with nearly 95% voting For. STG converts to ZRO at 0.08634 ZRO per STG until 15 December 2026. Chain and Pool Cuts: Stargate removed unsupported chains on 28 April 2026 and deprecated several remote pools on 24 September 2026 (L2BEAT). Taxi Only: Bus mode ended, and since 1 October 2026 every Stargate transfer is delivered by Stargate Taxi.

Skrumble Community Ratings

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• Your experience with cross-chain transfers and transaction speeds
• How fees compare to other bridge protocols
• Any issues with supported networks or asset transfers
• User interface quality and ease of use
• Customer support responsiveness and helpfulness

Conclusion

Stargate Finance delivers on its promise of one-transaction transfers of native assets between major EVM chains, and DefiLlama records no protocol exploit, only a $43,000 phishing case in December 2023. Its docs list contracts on 46 chains, and Stargate Taxi transfers averaged about one minute on L2BEAT. However, Stargate is shrinking under LayerZero's ownership, with value locked down 80% in a year and chains and pools cut in 2026, and limited asset variety remains a notable limitation. The protocol excels for users needing reliable transfers of major cryptocurrencies but may disappoint those seeking diverse token support, Solana routes or decentralized governance.

FAQs

Who is Behind Stargate Finance?

+ Stargate Finance was built by LayerZero Labs and launched in March 2022. In August 2025 Stargate DAO holders approved its acquisition by LayerZero Foundation, so Stargate now operates within LayerZero and the Stargate DAO has been dissolved.

What Chains are Supported by Stargate Finance?

+ Stargate's docs list V2 contracts on 46 chains: 18 pool chains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, Polygon, Base and Linea, plus 28 Hydra chains. Solana is not supported.

What is the Purpose of STG in Crypto?

+ STG was Stargate's governance token, also used for fee sharing and liquidity incentives. Since the LayerZero acquisition the Stargate DAO has been dissolved, and STG converts to ZRO at 0.08634 ZRO per STG until 15 December 2026.

What is the Delta Algorithm in Stargate Finance?

+ The Delta Algorithm dynamically allocates liquidity across various public chains, maintaining soft-partitioned liquidity pools on each chain while ensuring native compatibility.

What Happened After the LayerZero Acquisition Passed?

+ Stargate DAO holders approved the acquisition in August 2025 with nearly 95% voting For. The Stargate DAO was dissolved, STG staking no longer applies, and STG holders can convert to ZRO at 0.08634 ZRO per STG until 15 December 2026.  

Risk Warning:

Trading Forex, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. These markets are volatile and can result in the loss of your invested capital. Make sure you fully understand the risks before trading.