Axelar's General Message Passing (GMP) enables seamless cross-chain communication, but malicious contract exploits pose risks. To address this, Axelar implements robust solutions. First, rigorous audits of network code and smart contracts are conducted, with results published for transparency. Open-source code encourages white-hat hackers to identify vulnerabilities, supported by an active bug bounty program. Additionally, Axelar employs rate-limiting functions on gateway contracts to cap asset transfers within set timeframes, reducing exploit potential. Validators use multi-party cryptography, dividing keys into shares to prevent unauthorized actions. For enhanced security, developers can leverage GMP to build custom cross-chain policies, such as limiting transfer volumes or requiring co-authorization. These layered defenses—decentralized consensus, key rotations, and rate limits—effectively mitigate malicious contract risks, ensuring secure interoperability.