Astar zkEVM: Supernova is Here!

Breaking new ground in collaboration with Polygon by launching Astar zkEVM

We’re excited to finally be able to share what we’ve been quietly working on in the past few weeks. Get ready for the launch of Astar Supernova!

Astar Supernova marks a major milestone in our roadmap. We’re joining the efforts to scale Ethereum while at the same time progressing on our mission to drive web3 adoption in Japan and beyond. Astar zkEVM will combine cutting-edge zero-knowledge (ZK) technology with Ethereum's security, scalability, and interoperability.

Astar Network started deeply embedded in the Polkadot ecosystem with the mission of creating a cross-chain smart contract environment that would empower enterprises and dApp builders. Our protocol was further enhanced by an innovative mechanism to fund dApps, enabling them to generate passive income powered by the community.

With the launch of Astar zkEVM, we are expanding Astar Networks’ cross-chain capabilities, creating the tech stack to bring billions into web3. We will continue being part of the Polkadot ecosystem and lead efforts to bring multichain communities together. The Astar Foundation will be spearheading efforts to onboard enterprise partners to Astar Network, further increasing the share of parties building onchain. We are aiming to become a gateway to connect the Ethereum and Polkadot ecosystems. Astar is committed to enabling interoperability between the existing Astar VMs and enhancing cross-contract interoperability for other dApps to tap into in collaboration with partners like LayerZero and Gelato.

For Astar zkEVM, we’re working with Polygon Labs, a leader in Ethereum scaling solutions, to enhance security and streamline integrations for more accessible blockchain experiences.

“We’re excited to add another cutting-edge technology to our tech stack with Astar zkEVM. This allows us to tap into the vast Ethereum ecosystem and serve as a gateway for enterprise adoption in Japan and beyond. We will remain deeply rooted in the Polkadot ecosystem, which also includes enabling interoperability between all our VMs: EVM, zkEVM, and WASM.” Ultimately, we believe that the future is cross-chain, and networks that allow a developer to tap into a variety of vibrant ecosystems via cross-chain smart contracts will have an edge.” - Maarten, Head of the Astar Foundation

Embark with us on this journey and become an early adopter of Astar zkEVM!

Why zkEVM?

Ethereum is further solidifying its position as a leading environment for developers to build on, displaying an immense network effect that is impossible to ignore. Consequently, we’ve seen a rise in rollups and other layer-2 scaling solutions. When combined with zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, zk-rollups maintain trustlessness and enhance security by verifying proofs without exposing sensitive data.

The EVM is the backbone of Ethereum, managing smart contracts and state transitions for the network. A zkEVM merges zk-rollups and EVM by replicating Ethereum's environment within zk-rollups and providing cryptographic proof of correctness. This ensures data accuracy while maintaining security and privacy.

A key benefit in addition to scalability is that zkEVM allows portability of existing EVM dApps; this means developers can readily expand their protocols - while offering their users cheaper and faster transactions.

Astar zkEVM

Astar zkEVM is created in collaboration with Polygon Labs and will be a valuable addition to the existing Astar Tech Stack. We’ve already established ourselves as a leading blockchain in Japan, quickly becoming the number 1 parachain based on market value in the Polkadot ecosystem. We combine multiple smart contract environments to provide enterprises with the most suitable solutions for their use case.

Launching Astar zkEVM is a strategic move through which we unite the global strengths of Polygon with our expertise in the Japanese market to onboard further enterprise partners and build killer use cases that will span from Japan to the world.

Japan has made web3 a national strategy, with support reaching all the way to the Prime Minister, who sees it as a disruptor of the internet. We’re looking forward to becoming the portal to web3 for enterprises and government agencies and fulfilling our vision of billions using web3 regularly.

What’s next?

Our announcement of Supernova is just the start. In the next few days, we will start revealing partners who will launch on Astar zkEVM. Our testnet will go live in Q4, and public release is pending results from the testnet stage.

There will be plenty of opportunities for Astar community members to get involved and be rewarded for it.

We’re setting the stage for a future where major IP and entertainment companies from Japan will become global Web3 players, showcasing what’s possible when unstoppable networks unleash creativity.

FAQ

Is Astar zkEVM an Ethereum Layer 2?

Yes.

What are the main features of Astar zkEVM?

Astar zkEVM serves as a versatile solution for global enterprises, accelerating the adoption of blockchain technology not just in Japan, but on a global scale. It particularly positions itself as a gateway for international gaming and entertainment ventures to tap into the lucrative Japanese market. Central to Astar's innovation is its adoption of Ethereum Layer-2 Scaling solution.

Key attributes of the Astar zkEVM include:

• Scalability that ensures smooth operations even during high transaction volumes via zero-knowledge technology
• EVM equivalency
• Deriving its security mechanisms from Ethereum, ensuring a robust and secure framework
• Trustless interoperability with Ethereum and making diverse integrations smoother
• Significantly reduced transaction costs compared to Ethereum, making it economically advantageous for users.

What is the value of Astar zkEVM for ASTR token holders?

Astar zkEVM uses the ASTR token in three new ways: as the gas fee for tooling, in the burning mechanism with the sequencer, and in burning incentivized tokens to the network aggregator. This model will be evaluated on our testnet to maximize the value for ASTR holders. The final design is subject to change based on analysis from testing the model.

What is Astar zkEVM’s gas option?

ETH is the gas token option on Astar zkEVM testnet.

When will you launch Astar zkEVM?

Our testnet launch is scheduled for Q4 of this year.

Read all other answers in our extended FAQ in our docs.

About Astar Network

Astar serves as the gateway for projects across enterprise, entertainment, and gaming to enter Japan and beyond. Driving global adoption of web3 to millions with an ecosystem powered by Polkadot and Polygon as the industry-leading blockchain for the Japan market.

Astar zkEVM is the new Layer-2 solution to scale a web3 experience on Ethereum with zero knowledge (ZK) technology. Astar Network adds an EVM equivalent environment to their protocol that seamlessly integrates with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on Ethereum.

About Polygon Labs

Polygon Labs develops Ethereum scaling solutions for Polygon protocols. Polygon Labs engages with other ecosystem developers to help make available scalable, affordable, secure and sustainable blockchain infrastructure for Web3. Polygon Labs has initially developed a growing suite of protocols for developers to gain easy access to major scaling solutions, including layer 2s (zero-knowledge rollups), sidechains, app-specific chains, and data availability protocols. Scaling solutions that Polygon Labs initially developed have seen widespread adoption with tens of thousands of decentralized apps, unique addresses exceeding 320 million, 1.5 million smart contracts created, and 2.9 billion total transactions processed since inception. The existing Polygon network is home to some of the biggest Web3 projects, such as Aave, Uniswap, and OpenSea, and well-known enterprises, including Robinhood, Stripe, and Adobe. Polygon Labs is carbon neutral with the goal of leading Web3 in becoming carbon negative.

If you're an Ethereum Developer, you're already a Polygon developer! Leverage Polygon’s fast and secure transactions for dApps you develop; get started here.