LayerZero Labs is retiring Stargate V1, the cross-chain bridging protocol that launched in March 2022 as the first application built on the LayerZero messaging protocol. Its liquidity pools will stop operating after December 15, 2026, when the LayerZero Labs V1 Relayer is deactivated, unless liquidity providers withdraw their positions beforehand. Stargate will provide zero-fee withdrawals for all users. Its V1 messaging service will be paused for about two weeks before the deadline, after which the pools will reopen for withdrawals until the relayer is shut down. The change affects Stargate V1 only; Stargate V2 and Hydra will continue operating. The move follows a broader effort to phase out support for low-activity chains and focus resources on newer technology. Stargate V1 used unified liquidity pools and the Delta algorithm to reduce fragmentation across networks. In August 2025, the LayerZero Foundation formally acquired Stargate, with STG converting to ZRO at a rate of 1 STG to 0.08634 ZRO. LayerZero recommends that users withdrawing liquidity consider more liquid chains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, and BSC.