Astar Network has announced the commencement of Phase 1 of its evolution, which involves the transition of Astar zkEVM to Soneium, an Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) chain developed in collaboration with Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture between Sony Group and Startale. This strategic move aims to align with Astar Network’s mission of connecting users to Web3 and creating greater value for its community, according to astar.network.

The Vision Behind Soneium

The transition to Soneium is not merely a rebranding but a strategic alignment with Sony Group, a global technology leader. By leveraging Sony’s extensive user touchpoints, Astar Network aims to bring Web3 technologies to a broader audience, enhancing the ASTR token’s ecosystem beyond current expectations.

Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale and Founder of Astar Network, stated, “To expand our ecosystem and accelerate mass adoption on-chain, we believe transitioning Astar zkEVM into Soneium L2 is the right step forward.”

The Future of Astar Ecosystem and Its Assets

The growth of Soneium L2 is expected to have positive impacts on the Astar ecosystem, particularly in six key areas:

1. Value Capture through Sequencer Revenue: Revenue from Soneium’s on-chain activities will be reinvested into the development of Astar and future products.
2. Expansion of ASTR Utility: Soneium L2 will be part of the Superchain initiative, making ASTR interoperable with other major ecosystems, powered by Chainlink CCIP.
3. Broadening ASTR Applications: The Astar Foundation will continue to focus on expanding the utility of ASTR across Soneium.
4. Future Rewards for ASTR Holders: Potential benefits for ASTR holders through future initiatives.
5. Liquidity Provision and Incentives: Joint liquidity pools on Soneium’s DeFi platforms will offer high-yield farming rewards.
6. Staking Programs: DeFi Liquid Staking projects will welcome ASTR users to stake their tokens on Soneium L2.

Other Key Benefits

The transition to Soneium L2 aims to create a win-win scenario for both Astar Network and its community. Key benefits include:

• Leveraging Sony’s Ecosystem: Unique opportunities across various industries such as gaming, entertainment, and finance.
• Community Empowerment: More opportunities for the existing user base to participate in new projects and dApps.
• Astar Network L2 Innovation: Integration with Polkadot and Soneium L2 for innovative cross-chain applications.

Technical Execution of Transitioning Astar zkEVM to Soneium L2

The transition will be executed through a carefully planned technical strategy, ensuring minimal disruption for users and developers. Key steps include:

1. Release User and Builder Guides: Clear guidelines for migrating to Soneium L2.
2. Disable Deposits: Prevent new assets from being bridged to Astar zkEVM.
3. Increase Batching/Sequencing Interval: Reduce operational expenses.
4. Gradual Closure: Monitor leftover liquidity and decide the optimal time for complete sunset.
5. Enhance Security Measures: Prevent spam transactions by increasing the gas multiplier.
6. Community Education and Communication: Implement a comprehensive communication plan about the rebranding process.

Strategic Initiatives to Drive Value

Several strategic initiatives will ensure the success of Astar Evolution Phase 1:

• Liquidity Provision and Incentives: Joint liquidity pools on Soneium’s DeFi platforms.
• Staking Programs: DeFi Liquid Staking projects for ASTR users.
• Co-Marketing Campaigns: Joint marketing campaigns to highlight the benefits of using ASTR.

Technical Roadmap and Milestones for Astar Network

The roadmap for the latter half of 2024 focuses on:

• On-Chain Governance: Integrating the governance model into the Astar runtime.
• Polkadot-SDK Uplifting: Incorporating new features and enhancements.
• Safety and Emergency Handling: Integrating transaction-pause and safe-mode pallets.
• Async Backing Testing and Integration: Optimizing block production and reducing latency.
• Core Time Testing and Integration: Enhancing overall performance and efficiency.
• New JAM Model Research: Potentially reducing transaction confirmation times.

Maarten Henskens, Head of Astar Foundation, commented, “By aligning with Soneium and transitioning Astar zkEVM, we are creating a more robust ecosystem that will drive innovation and adoption in the Web3 space.”

Conclusion

Astar Evolution Phase 1 is a strategic move to ensure that activities in Soneium accrue value to the Astar Network and its token. The Astar community and stakeholders are expected to be rewarded for their continuous support in this transformative journey.

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