LayerZero acquisition of the Stargate protocol has emerged victorious from an intense four-way bidding war. This significant event marks a pivotal moment for the blockchain messaging protocol, LayerZero, as it reclaims control over Stargate after a competitive bidding process.
Inside the LayerZero Acquisition
The LayerZero acquisition was sealed with a $110 million proposal, which received overwhelming support from the Stargate community. An impressive 95% of votes favored this acquisition, demonstrating strong community backing. Initially, the proposal faced criticism from Stargate token holders who felt the deal was undervalued. However, LayerZero swiftly amended the offer to address these concerns.
Community’s Role in the Acquisition
The acquisition vote saw unprecedented participation, as noted by LayerZero co-founder and CEO, Bryan Pellegrino. Over 15,000 addresses participated, with 94.76% voting in favor. This level of engagement underscores the community’s decisive influence on the acquisition process.
Competing Bids in the Stargate Acquisition
In a dramatic turn, three other contenders entered the fray with last-minute bids. Wormhole, one of the rivals, offered a higher bid of $120 million, promising stakers three times the projected revenue for the next six months. Despite this attractive offer, the community remained steadfast in their support for LayerZero.
Other Interested Parties
Axelar Network and Across Protocol also expressed interest in acquiring Stargate. However, both platforms acknowledged that the vote on LayerZero’s bid couldn’t be paused, thus limiting their ability to submit formal offers. The Stargate Foundation maintained that any parties interested would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement to proceed with due diligence.
LayerZero’s Revised Proposal
The final approved deal involved a strategic proposal to use Stargate’s excess revenue for a ZRO buyback program. Initially criticized for offering little to STG holders, the revised offer provided substantial benefits. Stargate stakers would receive half of all top-line revenue for six months, with the other half earmarked for purchasing LayerZero (ZRO) tokens. Consequently, all circulating STG will be exchanged for ZRO at a rate of 1 STG to 0.08634 ZRO.
The LayerZero acquisition of Stargate not only consolidates its position in the blockchain messaging sector but also highlights the power of community influence in crypto deals. As the dust settles, the crypto world watches for the next move in this unfolding narrative.
