**The initiative will bring real-world utility to NFTs in Japan, enabling the railway operator to strengthen its customer relationships**

---

**Tokyo, Japan / May 11, 2023** / Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) – part of Japan’s largest rail network, the Japan Railway Group – announced today that it will issue NFTs on Astar Network, the multichain smart contract platform, in collaboration with P.R.O. Co., Ltd.

As part of the Japanese railway operator infrastructure, JR Kyushu runs interrail services in Kyusuhu and various adjacent businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and drug stores. Annually, more than 331 million people use their services.

![](https://ipfs.subsocial.network/ipfs/QmbnuZDDFfD5uNSxNKmpZBV3pK9bQ2Ub2hPHM363gEfyhG) Kyushu is the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands

The JR Kyushu NFT project will kick off in July 2023 and provide riders with new ways to enjoy Kyushu while maintaining a holistic track record of their travel experience. To support their NFTs, the railway operator plans to utilize Japan's most popular smart contract platform, Astar Network, for its low fees, high scalability, and the team's deep understanding of the Japanese market.

While NFTs are often considered primarily for trading and monetization of digital art, JR Kyushu aims to leverage the technology to provide visitors with memorabilia and proof of visiting, riding, and using their system.

> *At Astar Network, we’re excited to see more real-life use cases of enterprises exploring and leveraging NFTs to build closer relationships with their customers and provide new value. We look forward to supporting PRO Japan and JR Kyushu in their endeavor. - Sota Watanabe, Astar Network founder*

This move marks a significant milestone as it introduces blockchain technology to Japan's extensive high-speed railway system, revolutionizing the way riders interact with JR Kyushu trains. Previously, electronic commuter cards were the primary means of interaction, through a process already familiar to urban commuters, but by leveraging NFTs, JR Kyushu aims to enhance the customer experience and unlock new possibilities for travelers.

The use of blockchain technology provides numerous benefits, such as increased security, transparency, and the potential for personalized services. With this innovative approach, JR Kyushu is at the forefront of incorporating cutting-edge technologies into the railway industry, offering unique and exciting opportunities for both the company and its customers.

Once the project launches, riders will be able to purchase commemorative NFTs or obtain them through the usage of the system. Depending on the NFTs held, riders might qualify for further benefits and access to limited NFTs.

![](https://ipfs.subsocial.network/ipfs/QmVRdG7cacizR6qrw1NiuhjzseTP6RgxDr54vwyHQapzYB)

As a first proof-of-concept, JR Kyushu and P.R.O. Co. will distribute a free NFT during the Blockchain Expo in Tokyo from May 10th - 12th displaying the new Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.

You can learn more about other enterprise collaborations we’ve supported on our [blog](https://astar.network/blog).

---

### **About Astar Network**

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract platform, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Astar Network is friendly to all kinds of developers, and the tools and languages they already know. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) |[ Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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JR Kyushu Railway Company To Launch NFTs on Astar Network To Boost Customer Engagement

Today we are thrilled to announce that Ledger now supports native staking on Astar Network! This is a significant feature update for our community as it allows ASTR token holders with Ledger devices to engage with the Build2Earn dApp staking system and other ecosystem dApps leveraging the Wasm runtime environment, while still enjoying the superior security features of Ledger hardware wallets.

In 2022, support for Ledger devices on Astar and Shiden EVMs rolled out, enabling users to sign transactions and deploy or interact with smart contracts on the networks’ EVM layer. This development, coupled with Ledger’s ability to store private keys offline, provided an invaluable security option for both new and experienced crypto users, opting for the freedom of self-custody. This assurance of safety empowered users to confidently store larger amounts of ASTR and SDN as part of their portfolios.

![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*9EulIKLoaTnli5X5sPTajg.jpeg)

Today, we have taken another step forward by introducing native staking to the mix, enhancing opportunities for participation in Astar’s web3 ecosystem. However, with increased control over assets comes added responsibility, necessitating careful consideration of various nuances of self-custody, such as appropriate storage of private keys.

Cold storage on a Ledger wallet is an effective solution to this challenge, keeping your keys offline, in your possession, and shielded from potential software attacks, fault attacks, and even side-channel attacks. The Ledger has a remarkable track record of over five years without hacks and is widely recognized, with over 4 million wallets sold in over 200 countries. Ledger requires physical verification of transactions on the device, ensuring that your keys and password stay off your computer, phone, or internet-capable app, enhancing security even further.

![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*mMp0TgX_3zxQvuwHiBSoDw.jpeg)

With this update, Ledger users can now enjoy the benefits of dApp staking using ASTR native tokens, with the same level of security they expect. To get started with native staking, ensure that your Ledger Live and device firmware are up to date, and that you’ve imported your Ledger account to Polkadot.js. Remember to use a Chromium-based browser such as Google Chrome or Brave for web-based operations.

Once your device is set up, you can visit the [Astar Portal](https://portal.astar.network), connect your Polkadot.js extension, and select your Ledger account to participate in dApp staking. If you need any assistance with setting up your device, initiating your first interaction, or understanding the dApp staking system, please refer to our Ledger staking guides for either the [Astar native](https://docs.astar.network/docs/integrations/wallets/ledger/ledger-native/) or [Astar EVM](https://docs.astar.network/docs/integrations/wallets/ledger/ledger-evm/) environments.

While this feature update presents an exciting opportunity, we must remind you to be cautious about security and to protect yourself by following some best practices:

1. Only order your hardware wallet from Ledger approved websites and vendors.
2. Use strong passwords or passphrases whenever possible, or a password manager which makes this easy.
3. Avoid storing recovery phrases digitally in any form, whether that be a photograph, or plain text file. Where this is unavoidable, **DO NOT** store recovery phrases on cloud-based services, or other locations that back up to the cloud .
4. Back-up your 24-word recovery phrase on paper or more robust physical media and store it off-site from your hardware wallet.

At Astar Network, we continuously strive to improve the services and features we offer our community. While the first iteration of native dApp staking for Ledger is live right now, we look forward to seeing further improvements that we hope will deliver a cold storage solution and user experience that’s unmatched! Happy staking!

---

![](https://ipfs.subsocial.network/ipfs/QmUexWmoH72wqtguLYCfAhu23d1sEnuPr83vmwb2Tj1Ag9)

---

# **About Astar Network**

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract platform, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Astar Network is friendly to all kinds of developers, and tools and languages they already know. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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Ledger Devices Now Support Native DApp Staking on Astar Network!

---

## What is all this AI hype about?

AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence, is actually quite different from what most of us would colloquially refer to as ‘AI’ these days, in the form of Chat GPT. AGI refers to a highly autonomous machine intelligence able to perform any cognitive task a human being is able to, but we’re not there yet. An AGI would possess the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across multiple domains; and to reason, and solve problems like a human. In essence, AGI would demonstrate true intelligence like that of humans, and not be limited to performing well on only specific sets of tasks.

GPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, on the other hand, is a type of AI that belongs to a family of transformer-based language models. GPT models have been designed for various natural language processing tasks, including text generation, translation, summarization, and question-answering, with the most famous being OpenAI’s Chat GPT-3\. These models are pre-trained on massive amounts of textual data and can generate creative, context-aware, human-like text based on given input prompts.

Where the difference between AGI and GPTs becomes critically evident, is in the ‘understanding’ of the text. Whereas an AGI would be able to process and comprehend what words and concepts actually mean, GPTs play a bit of a charade while making themselves *appear* to have intelligence, even on the odd occasion they’re dead wrong. Have you ever asked ChatGPT to count its own words or phrases? No amount of prompt engineering wizardry is going to fix the underlying issue.

> *“Whereas an AGI would be able to process and comprehend what words and abstract concepts actually mean, GPTs play a bit of a charade while making themselves* ***appear*** *to have intelligence…”*

Actually, if there are no provisions in the model for GPTs to admit they may not have the correct answer, they will go ahead and make one up. When confronted, amusingly enough, they usually respond in a ‘my bad’ kind of fashion, as if they are naughty juveniles becoming acutely aware that the answers they copied from someone else’s test were wrong. There is definitely room for improvement, and one current theory is that GPTs will ‘grow up’ at some point and become full-fledged AGIs. We will have to wait and see.

Limited as they are in their infancy, though, GPTs have the potential to disrupt the blockchain industry in such a vast number of ways that it would take a whole series of articles to cover even a subset of the practical use-cases. From automating user technical support, providing tutoring and tutorials, to instantly empowering users and builders alike with smart contract creation and auditing tools requiring no previous experience, we only hope to touch on but a few of the use-cases for AI here today for the purpose of this article.

## What is the advantage of using Astar Network’s AI?

> *“!Astari, can you look over the following \[code example\] and tell me if devs could rug?” — Cautious Degen*

Astar’s AI assistant, which our community has affectionately named Astari, utilizes a GPT, however we take it one step further. By extending the language model and therefore its application specifically to the realm of Astar Network, blockchain technology, and smart contract development, we’ve created a powerful tool with a set of features that our entire community should find useful.

> *“The withdraw function in this smart contract allows a user to withdraw funds. It takes an amount as an input parameter and transfers the specified amount of tokens or coins from the contract’s balance to the user’s address. However,* ***the function also contains a recursive call vulnerability*** *, which would allow an attacker to exploit the withdraw function* ***to drain the funds*** *…” — Astari AI*

![Astari is available on our official documentation portal](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*57RpGCE_iX2E6EZnptUlPw.jpeg) *Astari on Astar Docs*

Web3 moves pretty fast, and if you blink, you might miss it. Would you trust the quality of information you received about Polkadot, XCM, or ink! language, for example, if it came from an AI trained in 2019? I didn’t think so!

With its specialized training and automated reindexing of common sources, such as our official [Medium](https://medium.com/astar-network) publications and [Github](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) repositories, Astari is able to provide current information on just about everything related to Astar Network, from news and ways to interact with the network and community, to tutorials, and even code examples.

Being such a transformative technology, tools like Astari and eventually AGI will impact web3 in ways we haven’t even imagined yet. With AI monitoring and indexing blockchains on the fly, machine-learning algorithms able to spot, mitigate, and report threat incidents and trends as they emerge, and as they enhance our ability to scale through optimized consensus methods and more efficient distribution of blockspace, the potential for innovation is immense. We are at the dawn of a new age.

> *“!Astari, who works* ***longer hours*** *, Sota or Maarten?” — Cheeky Starduster*

Eventually, AI assistants will be everywhere, and we will look back at search engines as having been a necessary, but somewhat crude solution; pale by comparison to ‘smart’ search engines like Astari we talk to as if they’re people. This ability to converse in a natural way is one of AI’s disruptive use cases, making it difficult for users of these new AI platforms to revert back to the ‘old’ way of doing things, which is strange to say, of course, as at the time of this writing Chat GPT-4, which Astari uses by default, is only two months old.

> *“I’m sorry, I don’t get involved with or answer questions about office politics, but would be happy to answer your questions related to Astar Network, Polkadot, blockchain, or software development!” — Astari AI*

Now, we should all have played around with AI at least once already, but in any case, if you haven’t, now is your opportunity! Go ahead and bookmark the link to our [official documentation portal](http://docs.astar.network/docs) (where you can converse normally with Astari any time), then join the [Discord channel](https://discord.com/channels/644182966574252073/1097773162248278077), and give it a try as you follow along!

![Astari on Discord](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*Okm48YrBCQKN_EgBP9ETdQ.jpeg) *Astari on Discord*

In the meantime, !astari, why don’t you take the opportunity to introduce yourself?

> *“Hello, I am Astari, an AI assistant trained to answer questions about Astar Network. I reside in the Astar Network Discord server, specifically in the ask-astari-ai channel, and you can also find me on the official documentation portal.*

> *As an AI assistant, my purpose is to support inquiries made in the context of Astar, especially by developers. I can provide code examples when necessary and offer help on various Astar Network-related topics.*

> *I strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information to assist developers and other individuals interested in the Astar Network ecosystem. By sharing valuable resources, references, and tips, I aim to contribute positively to the understanding and growth of the Astar Network.”*

You can try Astari yourself on Discord by placing an !astari command in front of your question, as shown below. ***Please Note:*** *Do not use !Astari with a capital, as that is interpreted differently for now.*

> *!astari what’s the latest news?*

> *!astari can you analyze the following \[smart contract code\] and tell me what it does?*

Go ahead and ask about anything related to blockchain, or for more specific information about any of the following:

* Astar Network, Shiden, Shibuya, Polkadot
* How to set up a wallet
* DAO governance, referenda, and related discussions
* Smart contracts, runtime environments, and development tools
* Software development, and code on Github

![Astari can build and audit basic smart contracts for both Wasm and EVM runtime environments](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*dKaNg3teKY2tomRJKw58DQ.jpeg) *Astari can build and audit basic smart contracts for both Wasm and EVM environments*

* Integrations
* Investors and sponsors
* News and updates
* Account interactions and error messages
* Network IDs, RPCs, and endpoints
* Nodes, Collators, and infrastructure maintenance

![don't be a cheeky starduster!](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*eIaQtAb9BPBXigT0HZuihw.jpeg) *don't be a cheeky starduster!*

## Not yet a perfect solution, but it’s a start

With its advanced AI capabilities and specialized knowledge of the Astar Network ecosystem, Astari aims to enhance your experience and help you navigate the world of blockchain technology more easily. Powerful as it is for now, it will still make some mistakes, but as early adopters of the technology we expect the quality of answers and service availability to improve substantially over time.

For now if you experience a delay longer than a few minutes or an ‘unable to respond at this time’ message, please try again later, and if you notice any serious discrepancies between an answer you expect to receive and what you actually do (or bonus points if you break it 😏) feel free to reach out to me on Discord. I’m @thetokenblonde#7894.

## In summary

As we continue to witness the rapid growth and evolution of AI and blockchain, it’s crucial to stay informed and make the most of the opportunities they present. Whether you are a developer, investor, or simply curious about the potential of Astar Network, Astari is your personal guide to understanding, exploring, and leveraging the power of web3 with this groundbreaking technology.

So, don’t hesitate to engage with Astari and unlock the wealth of knowledge it holds. Join the Astar Network Discord server, head over to the [🤖ask-astari-ai](https://discord.com/channels/644182966574252073/1097773162248278077) channel, or visit our [official documentation portal](https://docs.astar.network) and let the conversation begin! The future of AI and blockchain is within your reach, and Astari is here to make it accessible and exciting for everyone.

Together, let’s embark on this journey of discovery, innovation, and transformative possibilities. Welcome to Astar Network, where AI and blockchain converge to shape the future of decentralized technologies.

---

## About Astar Network

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract platform, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Astar Network is friendly to all kinds of developers, and tools and languages they already know. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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Your Personal Guide to Astar Network is Here!

---

Recently, [**Astar**](https://astar.network/) and [**Sony Network Communications**](https://twitter.com/sonynetworkcom) announced the [winning candidates of the web3 Incubation Program](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork/status/1637971372512280578?s=20). As the program runs its course, we have released a series of articles highlighting the features and practical solutions being offered by each of the candidates, so our community is able to learn more about what they’re doing, and what made them stand out among nearly 200 other amazing projects!

#### **Web3 Demo Day**

The culmination of the web3 incubation program will be held on [June 18th at a live in-person venue](https://astar.network/blog/demo-day-38521) as well as online in the COSMIZE Metaverse, and will feature pitch sessions from each project to showcase their innovations to venture capitalists and corporations interested in collaborating with web3 startups.

The event will be an opportunity for those who want to learn about practical uses of web3 through hands-on experience and presentations from cutting-edge global projects, and for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the web3 vision that Astar Network and Sony Network Communications are working on.

There will also be opportunities to interact directly with the program candidates, both online and offline.

With that being said, we are delighted to highlight the **last four of nineteen** exceptional candidates being recognized for their innovative approaches to revolutionize various aspects of the web3 ecosystem.

#### **The Round Four Candidates**

Leveraging technologies such as NFTs and the Metaverse to create immersive experiences, enhance credential management, and facilitate community-building, the final batch of promising candidates aim to bridge the gap between traditional web2 brands and the emerging web3 landscape, like many of the others.

These projects focus on providing user-friendly platforms designed to attract customers through partnerships, and aim to drive adoption and integration of blockchain and Metaverse technologies into various industries; some of which will be showcasing their technologies during Web3 Demo Day on June 18th for offline event participants to experience first-hand, and similarly for online participants in the Metaverse.

---

---

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*wkp76GrQOEbVasXzof_ehg.png)

At Desoul, our goal is to unleash the power of every soul. SoulHub will help you utilize innovative NFT/SBT technology in the real world.

SoulHub is a comprehensive platform that focuses on SBT-based (SoulBound Tokens) credential management.

Problem Statement: There is a lack of efficient credential and identity management systems that effectively connect Web3 with the real world.

Solution: SoulHub addresses this challenge by introducing soulbound tokens specifically designed for various use cases, including ticket, membership card, certification, resume management, and proof of attendance. Their aim is to provide a user-friendly solution that attracts customers through partnerships with companies, organizations, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).

---

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ERK3u2m7J1jg1WuB8Lz5Vw.png)

COSMIZE is a virtual social platform where you can talk to friends and participate in events.

You can easily enjoy the metaverse experience with a single click from your PC.

Here, people can use their favorite avatars customized by themselves and enjoy the world of COSMIZE!

Not only chat with friends, you can also enjoy limited-time events held in special spaces in collaboration with famous brands and IPs.

In the past, we have developed and provided the Metaverse venue for hackathons held by Hakuhodo Key3 and Toyota. We also commit to collaborating with companies as well as users.

Decorate your room in the digital space, play mini-games with your friends in the city, or organize the events by yourself.

The fun is unlimited!

---

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*I-Ta4zAj1QaW97oIwMzhzg.jpeg)

SkyArk’s mission is to create interoperable NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and Metaverses. They recognize the challenge of NFT interoperability and the need to bridge traditional web2 brands into the world of blockchain and metaverses.

To address this challenge, SkyArk onboard traditional brands and efficiently constructs private metaverse spaces with their proprietary game creation system. This strategy allows them to gradually integrate web2 brands into the metaverse ecosystem. SkyArk aims to create a social-fi immersive experience for communication and connection between brands and users.

SkyArk boasts a successful track record with their past games and game studios, which were acquired by Tencent or achieved capital market listings. They have established partnerships with the government agencies from Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong to promote O2O activations. SkyArk has an agnostic approach in web3, by forming alliances with multiple blockchain networks and working with partners to promote cross-chain interoperability.

> “SkyArk is building a decentralized gaming platform and game creation system to create immersive experiences for brands & users.” — Kelvin Chua, SkyArk Co-Founder

SkyArk’s approach involves onboarding web2 brands in phases, constructing private metaverse spaces, and fostering cross-pollination interoperability. They leverage their expertise, industry partnerships, and government support to drive the adoption and integration of traditional brands into the blockchain and game creation space.

---

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*gxkScHPb9-4Qhwj9VoN6DA.jpeg)

Lemonade is a social web3 platform for creators and brands to build and manage communities.

The modern creator requires 5+ platforms to run their business, losing up to 40% of their earnings. Lemonade has consolidated the creator experience onto a single platform, freeing you from the admin and friction to do what you do best — create! We designed the UX from the ground up to offer a web2 interface for a web3 community-building experience.

* Create immersive experiences in minutes (IRL & virtual)
* Collaborate with others, sharing data and splitting revenue with full transparency
* NFT ticketing and POAPs, gas-free on your chain of choice
* Own your audience with full CRM & analytics tooling

---

---

In conclusion, the round four candidates of the Sony x Astar Web3 Incubation Program — Desoul, COSMIZE, SkyArk, and Lemonade — are yet more examples of innovation and practical problem-solving within the web3 ecosystem. Their forward-thinking applications and solutions promise to push the boundaries of web3 and Metaverse technologies, with the goal of making them more accessible and integrated into various industries.

#### **See you at Web3 Demo Day!**

As the Sony x Astar Web3 Incubation Program continues to nurture these promising projects, the industry is eagerly anticipating their future developments. As they gear up for the upcoming Web3 Demo Day, these four candidates are set to showcase the immense potential of blockchain and Metaverse technologies to shape the digital world as we know it.

### About Astar Network

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract blockchain, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Astar Network is friendly to all kinds of developers, and tools and languages they already know. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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The Astar x Sony Web3 Incubation Program Candidates: Round 4

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, Singapore-based Startale Labs Pte Ltd announced a $3.5 million USD investment from Sony Network Communications Inc. This strategic funding, acquired via a private placement of new shares, bolsters Startale Labs’ mission of driving global adoption of web3 technologies. Alongside financial investment, both parties plan to embark on extensive business collaboration initiatives.

Startale Labs, renowned for its work in multichain application and infrastructure development, has a rich history of collaboration with Sony Network Communications. Earlier in 2023, both firms partnered with Astar Network to conduct the successful Web3 Incubation Program. This joint effort sought to foster web3 projects centered on practical utility within NFTs, DAOs, and DeFi sectors, culminating in a Web3 Demo Day during Japan Blockchain Week on June 18th.

With fresh funding, Startale Labs is poised to augment its workforce and propel its web3 product and service development forward. As the principal developers behind Astar Network, the leading public blockchain in Japan, the team at Startale Labs possesses significant blockchain expertise and an ingrained presence in the Japanese web3 industry.

The current web3 ecosystem, while advancing, still lacks certain tools and infrastructure that allow enterprises to integrate with existing tech stacks seamlessly. Startale Labs and Sony Network Communications aim to address this challenge, collaborating to fill the gap with all-in-one solutions and bridging the divide between real-world assets and the web3 ecosystem.

> ***“I am excited to further strengthen our collaboration with Startale Labs, a company with advanced web3 technologies and expertise. We have already been cooperating with Startale Labs by jointly hosting incubation programs, aiming to promote the development of web3\. With this capital partnership, we are merging Startale Labs’ knowledge and technical capabilities in web3 with the experience and business fields cultivated by Sony Network Communications to create the infrastructure necessary to facilitate global Web3 adoption. We believe this partnership will contribute to the creation of new killer web3 use cases and deliver unprecedented levels of value.” Jun Watanabe, President and Executive Officer of Sony Network Communications Inc.***

As part of the new agreement, Jun Watanabe, President, CEO, and Representative Director of Sony Network Communications, has accepted a directorship role at Startale Labs. Jun expressed his excitement over the strengthened collaboration and the merging of Startale Labs’ advanced web3 technologies with Sony Network Communications’ experience and business expertise. The mutual goal is to create an infrastructure that facilitates global web3 adoption, fostering the development of new and innovative web3 use cases.

Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Labs, also shared his enthusiasm for the new partnership with Sony Network Communications, a company known for its achievements in various industries. The CEO highlighted Sony Group’s tremendous potential in the web3 space, due to its vast IP and sector expertise, particularly in relation to the creator economy.

> ***“We are honored to enter into this partnership with Sony Network Communications, a company of the Sony Group that is renowned for its achievements across industries including gaming & networking services, music, film, entertainment technologies & service, imaging & sensing solutions and finance. With its wealth of IP and expertise in sectors adjacent to the creator economy, Sony Group has tremendous potential in the web3 space, and we can’t wait to collaborate on tapping into that. We look forward to collaborating with Sony Network Communications to develop global web3 infrastructure and creating groundbreaking Web3 use cases.” Sota Watanabe, CEO, Startale Labs***

Sony Network Communications has gained renown for providing advanced infrastructure, such as the fiber-optic internet service NURO Hikari, and for its dedication to human change and infrastructure within the Internet telecommunications business.

**Source:** [Startale Labs, Sony Network Communications.](https://startale.org/blog/startale-and-sony-network-communications-form-capital-38815)

## **About Startale Labs**

Startale Labs is a web3 tech company that develops multichain applications and infrastructure, and provides business consulting services based on its expertise in multi-chain protocol development. It also acts as the gateway for large enterprises to integrate with Astar Network. Startale provides business strategy and tech support to participating projects by leveraging Astar’s development, past consulting and R&D business expertise. With a focus on web3 infrastructure, the company aims to build innovative products to enable the widespread adoption of Web3 technologies.

Email: Sota Watanabe, [info@startale.org](mailto:info@startale.org)  
Website: <https://startale.org/>

## **About Sony Network Communications**

The Sony Group operates a variety of businesses such as Game & Network Services, Music, Pictures, Entertainment Technology & Services, Imaging & Sensing Solutions, and Financial Services. As a business company of the Sony Group, Sony Network Communications is involved in the communication business, IoT business, AI business, and solution service business, and promotes new businesses by utilizing assets within the Sony Group.

Email: [press@sonynetworkcommunications.com](mailto:press@sonynetworkcommunications.com)  
Website: [www.sonynetworkcommunications.com](http://www.sonynetworkcommunications.com)

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Startale Labs Secures $3.5M USD Seed Funding from Sony Network Communications, Forming a Capital Alliance to Build Global Web3 Infrastructure!

Web3 technologies are reshaping how we interact with the digital world. They are steadily making strides toward achieving a fairer, freer, and more user-centric internet, where data sovereignty is paramount. As Japan’s most popular smart contract platform, Astar Network is a key player driving this revolution.

Amid the growing web3 growth frenzy, reminiscent of the dot-com boom, a prime unsolved issue remains— User Onboarding. Daunting technical jargon and a steep learning curve, even for simple account operations such as P2P token transfers, have made it tough for novices to enter the web3 space. To bridge this divide, a crucial tool has emerged on the horizon: **ERC-4337**.

# **ERC-4337: The Gateway to Account Abstraction**

ERC-4337, also known as Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4337, is not a ***token***, per se, as is sometimes expected with ‘ERC-X’ designations, but rather, ***a standard***, and introduces a concept known as account abstraction. In the context of Ethereum and EVM smart contracts, account abstraction can be understood as a feature that simplifies the interface between users and their accounts, enhancing the variety of interactions they can have with EVM networks.

**To break down the basics of ERC-4337:**

Consider a pocket multi-tool. This kind of tool isn’t just a knife, pair of pliers, or a screwdriver; it can transform itself into whatever you need at a particular moment. Similarly, a smart wallet isn’t only for cryptocurrencies; it can transform and accommodate a wide range of different functions. This could involve becoming a portal for interacting with DeFi applications, a signing authority for transactions, or a digital ID, all based on what the user needs at a particular moment.

> ***Just like how a good multi-tool aims to make the user’s life easier by integrating a variety of functions, a smart wallet strives to simplify the user’s interactions with blockchain technologies and decentralized applications.***

Historically, several attempts have been made to propose account abstraction, such as EIP-86, EIP-2938, and EIP-3074\. Each proposal had a specific focus, such as enabling smart contracts to initiate and approve transactions or creating new methods for efficient execution of smart contracts.

![](https://ipfs.subsocial.network/ipfs/QmRLcWzwxMxkgEcPngZ83LeRnxrYrSZKMmfzgSC8aBmvLf)

ERC-4337 introduces something called ‘User Mode.’ This feature provides smart contract-level security where users can optionally transact without requiring actual Ether (ETH) or other chain-native tokens like ASTR, or can pay transaction fees in other tokens through a decentralized validator/bundler market that pays using the native token on the users behalf. This offers the potential of reducing operational friction and making the onboarding process into the web3 ecosystem even more seamless for EVM users.

# **The Banana SDK**

The [Banana SDK](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/EVM/developer-tooling/banana) is a powerful tool that allows developers to make user-friendly dApps that can be interacted with as if there is no wallet at all. With Banana SDK, users can spin up a smart contract wallet (Banana Wallet) using the primary authentication method of the device (TouchID / FaceID), to start using dApps quickly and easily — ie: within 30 seconds.

Banana SDK shields users from the complexity of web3 interactions, allowing simple, secure onboarding. Installing Banana SDK and incorporating it into a JavaScript or TypeScript-based frontend unlocks the potential to create seamless and transparent user experiences, that are easy enough for Grandma to use!

# **Revolutionizing Web3 with Astar Network and Banana SDK**

These tools offer transformative potential for global adoption of web3 technologies. The Banana SDK and Astar Network act as pivotal stepping stones, greatly easing the transition into web3 for non-technical users.

This strategic combination simplifies the user experience to ultimately yield greater participation, and as the world moves at a record pace toward decentralized growth, tools like these will continue to encourage widespread blockchain adoption, and reinforce Astar Network’s vision to achieve ‘web3 for billions.’

---

## **For More Information**

Learn more about account abstraction and ERC-4337:

* <https://medium.com/infinitism/erc-4337-account-abstraction-without-ethereum-protocol-changes-d75c9d94dc4a>
* <https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-4337>

---

# **About Astar Network**

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract blockchain, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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Unraveling the Web3 Future with Account Abstraction — Onboarding the Next Billion Users

We are thrilled to announce the integration of Astar Network with thirdweb, an all-encompassing web3 development framework that delivers everything developers need to connect dApps and games to Astar, and create seamless user experiences.

# **The Power of thirdweb**

Thirdweb offers a complete set of development tools that cater to various platforms and programming languages, including React, TypeScript, Python, Go, and Unity. This integration makes thirdweb’s powerful suite of tools accessible to applications and games deployed on Astar network.

The latest version of Node.js, a basic understanding of React, and an Astar network wallet are the prerequisites needed to harness the capabilities of thirdweb.

# **Getting Started With thirdweb**

Getting started with thirdweb on Astar is easy. To create a new app pre-configured with thirdweb’s SDKs, you can simply run the following command and choose your preferred configuration:

```
npx thirdweb create app --evm
```

If you have an existing project and want to install thirdweb, you can initiate it through this command:

```
npx thirdweb install
```

To kickstart use of the SDK on Astar, wrap your application within the `ThirdwebProvider` component and modify the activeChain so it points to Astar network. If you’re using React, your code might look something like this:

```
import { Astar } from "@thirdweb-dev/chains";
import { ThirdwebProvider, useContract } from "@thirdweb-dev/react";

function App() {
  return (
    <ThirdwebProvider 
      activeChain={ Astar } 
      clientId="YOUR_CLIENT_ID" // You can get a client id from dashboard settings
    >
      {/* the rest of your app goes here */}
    </ThirdwebProvider>
  )
}
```

This sets up the `thirdweb` SDK on Astar Network, allowing your app to interact with smart contracts deployed there.

For more information about the full React SDK, check out the [**thirdweb official documentation**](https://docs.thirdweb.com/). To visit the Astar Network page on thirdweb where you can more easily manage or deploy projects, click [**here.**](https://thirdweb.com/astar)

# **The Advantages of Building with thirdweb**

The integration of Astar network with thirdweb paves the way for developers to build fully featured dApps and games supported by a resilient and robust infrastructure. This integration enhances Astar network with thirdweb’s powerful services, such as a Storage service for uploading and downloading data to decentralized storage, and a Bundler & Paymaster service for use with Smart Wallets (ERC-4337/6551).

At the heart of this integration is the shared vision of simplifying web3 development and taking it to the next level. The combination of a smart contract platform that supports both EVM and Wasm with thirdweb’s extensive toolkit promises unprecedented power and flexibility for Astar developers.

In summary, the integration with thirdweb extends the capabilities of developers building on Astar Network, enhancing their ability to create full-featured dApps with more resilient, reliable, and robust infrastructures enabled by thirdweb. This marks another step forward in our commitment to supporting our developer community and fostering growth of Astar Network.

Find more information and learn about how to build on Astar using thirdweb [**here**](https://thirdweb.com/astar), or alternatively, start building right away by visiting the [**Astar Network Official Docs**](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/EVM/developer-tooling/thirdweb).

# **About Astar Network**

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract blockchain, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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Now It's Easier Than Ever To Build DApps and Games on Astar, with Thirdweb

We are thrilled to announce the integration of Astar Network with thirdweb, an all-encompassing web3 development framework that delivers everything developers need to connect dApps and games to Astar, and create seamless user experiences.

# **The Power of thirdweb**

[Thirdweb](https://thirdweb.com) offers a complete set of development tools that cater to various platforms and programming languages, including React, TypeScript, Python, Go, and Unity. This integration makes thirdweb’s powerful suite of tools accessible to applications and games deployed on Astar network.

The latest version of Node.js, a basic understanding of React, and an Astar network wallet are the prerequisites needed to harness the capabilities of thirdweb.

# **Getting Started With thirdweb**

Getting started with thirdweb on Astar is easy. To create a new app pre-configured with thirdweb’s SDKs, you can use the [thirdweb Dashboard](https://thirdweb.com/dashboard) or simply run the following command and choose your preferred configuration:

```
npx thirdweb create app --evm


```

If you have an existing project and want to install thirdweb, you can initiate it through this command:

```
npx thirdweb install


```

To kickstart use of the SDK on Astar, wrap your application within the `ThirdwebProvider` component and modify the activeChain so it points to Astar network. If you’re using React, your code might look something like this:

```
import { Astar } from "@thirdweb-dev/chains";
import { ThirdwebProvider, useContract } from "@thirdweb-dev/react";

function App() {
  return (
    <ThirdwebProvider 
      activeChain={ Astar } 
      clientId="YOUR_CLIENT_ID" // You can get a client id from dashboard settings
    >
      {/* the rest of your app goes here */}
    </ThirdwebProvider>
  )
}

```

This sets up the `thirdweb` SDK on Astar Network, allowing your app to interact with smart contracts deployed there.

For more information about the full React SDK, check out the [**thirdweb official documentation**](https://docs.thirdweb.com/), and to read thirdweb’s guide for deploying smart contracts on Astar check out the link [**here**](https://blog.thirdweb.com/guides/how-to-deploy-a-smart-contract-on-astar-network/)**.** Or alternatively,you can start building right away by visiting the [**Astar Network Official Docs**](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/EVM/developer-tooling/thirdweb).

# **The Advantages of Building with thirdweb**

The integration of Astar network with thirdweb paves the way for developers to build fully featured dApps and games supported by a resilient and robust infrastructure. This integration enhances Astar network with thirdweb’s powerful services, such as a Storage service for uploading and downloading data to decentralized storage, and a Bundler & Paymaster service for use with Smart Wallets (ERC-4337/6551).

At the heart of this integration is the shared vision of simplifying web3 development and taking it to the next level. The combination of a smart contract platform that supports both EVM and Wasm with thirdweb’s extensive toolkit promises unprecedented power and flexibility for Astar developers.

In summary, the integration with thirdweb extends the capabilities of developers building on Astar Network, enhancing their ability to create full-featured dApps with more resilient, reliable, and robust infrastructures enabled by thirdweb. This marks another step forward in our commitment to supporting our developer community and fostering growth of Astar Network.

---

# **About Astar Network**

Astar is Japan’s most popular smart contract blockchain, supporting both EVM and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, and interoperability between them using a Cross-Virtual Machine. Backed by the shared security of Polkadot, Astar shines brilliantly on its own within a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and is a leading star in the blockchain industry overall, driving international corporate adoption, and consumer interest in web3 technologies.

Astar’s Build2Earn program is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects, all while encouraging growth of the ecosystem overall.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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Now It’s Easier Than Ever To Build DApps and Games on Astar Network, with thirdweb

ASTR is the native token driving Astar Network, having ultimate utility by serving various functions such as staking rewards, gas, and grants. Additionally, network activity and burning mechanisms soften the overall rate of increase in ASTR.

## DApp Staking for All Builders

Astar Network is particularly known for its innovative feature, dApp staking. This feature is a game-changer in the crowded blockchain space, where growth is all about network effects. Traditionally, there have been few financial incentives for early developers to deploy smart contracts. Astar Network has changed that by natively supporting developers to create dApps and infrastructure through the dApp staking grants program.

DApp staking is the program for developers to build dApps and receive developer incentives in return. By continually receiving developer incentives, teams can focus more on building and improving their dApps. With the addition of Astar zkEVM, dApp staking is now available to the Ethereum community.

One of the primary benefits of deploying Astar zkEVM is that it provides more choices to build upon using the Astar Tech Stack. With both Astar Substrate (Layer 1) on Polkadot and Astar zkEVM (Layer 2) on Ethereum, developers have more choice, and a greater variety of tools to create and build with.

With dApp staking available to both Substrate and Ethereum-based dApps, the program is able to attract builders from a larger pool of smart contract developers who can use the ASTR token to financially support their development activities.

Additionally, in the dApp staking V3 model, rewards that aren’t claimed by developers are burned, which soften the overall rate of increase in ASTR.

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8mBSNMcpmtRLOtlEkTKIEe81sa8q77SWA-eHuZvKk6i6BhDG2mJ6Jfuw5OlX-YZhzfxE_TrKmWeNJ8Ui0fQ8lXJvxHn7ittIkEfL-dJ-vvP-IhwywFrFLvmIIKWY_5GvL3teaDkVY5elWyweXlK3cQc)

## Astar zkEVM Buyback and Burn Mechanism

In general, Layer 2’s are valuable additions to Layer 1 blockchains. By offloading transactions from the main chain and processing them on Layer 2, Astar zkEVM makes more efficient use of blockspace resources on Ethereum, thereby enhancing its scalability. Similar to how other rollups work, Astar zkEVM processes transactions from users for a small fee. The sequencer then orders and batches these transactions before submitting them to Ethereum Layer 1, where anyone can verify the state. The validation of pending transactions occurs after the Aggregator and Prover components of the zkNode work together to mine a valid zero-knowledge proof - a compressed and highly efficient way of utilizing Layer 1 blockspace. In this way, users enjoy the security of Ethereum in an optimized way, while not worrying about expensive gas fees.

An integral part of the zkNode is the Sequencer, which earns revenue whenever users execute transactions on Layer 2\. As long as the Sequencer revenue exceeds the cost of submitting batches of transactions to Ethereum, Layer 2’s are profitable. The Sequencer on Astar zkEVM pays the Aggregator for its services in ASTR, and all ASTR paid out is burned, a mechanism that softens the overall rate of increase in ASTR.

At first, Astar zkEVM will have one sequencer, and use ETH for gas. ETH earned through sequencer activity on Astar zkEVM will be used to buy back and burn ASTR through a trusted and independent 3rd party, a mechanism that softens the overall rate of increase in ASTR further.

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OzBYJbhMHCtOiT4CMFth1VwTLhs9hQC5S8bDjml0fKwJvWbAPwYL488YSb2oHKUoZXWfcemU5klHVsoKIHsC2K51iT7QbiCsKt2M71zkZ3InkIIRJqaSb6XemWg6RqxlzkfRnLDjiSOLj71QJHwb5io)

## How the entire ecosystem brings value to ASTR

The [Astar Tech Stack](https://astar.network/developers/techstack) is the aggregation of all the technology, tools, and infrastructure designed to simplify the creation of custom dApps and blockchain-based products for enterprises, on Astar Network. It includes everything from the underlying blockchain to custom pallets for specific use cases, and Astar applications for users and developers built on top.

## More flexible options for Enterprise

Japanese enterprises and real-world use-cases are becoming foundational to the Astar ecosystem, and Astar zkEVM, in combination with Astar Substrate, offer the most composable tech stack to build on. Currently, Astar zkEVM is focusing on the Japanese market, in coordination with Polygon Labs. At the same time, the greater range of solutions that Astar Tech Stack offers fulfills the diverse requirements of both dApp developers and enterprises.

Enterprises building on Astar are able to tap into tooling, integrations, and interoperability between VMs, and enhanced network effect via unification of web3 platforms and users across ecosystems, further driving awareness, demand, and productive growth of Astar Network.

The move to add Astar zkEVM to the Tech Stack expands our network to the Ethereum community, the largest in the web3 space, opening up new opportunities. As the Astar ecosystem gradually expands, this could lead to increasing participation in dApp staking by the community to support builders.

## Ultimate utility and inflation reduction

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/drf5zuarin28fcNqsi2-BVD3SrFMA5bjVJNFysiEON2atkJ_4Z9ziP706m1_tsJoki5AwTkbKv71PZiTCReR3bF1eOBeqaEwUaLJzhOwKAev3gFQxL0NAv1apXIACxpYWlF-LK1IO8wQ9zSrq-ob8Xc)

ASTR is the token at the heart of the network, playing a multifaceted role within the entire ecosystem. There are three main functions of the ASTR token:

1. As the token for the dApp staking grants program. Builders that create projects or provide value to the network receive developer incentives.
2. Tooling developed on Astar Network allows developers to use ASTR for gas fees.
3. Both the Astar Treasury and Community Treasury are used to support network growth and fund projects within the community using ASTR tokens.

Network activity across the Astar Tech Stack reduces the rate of inflation of ASTR. Additionally, dApp staking V3 introduces a mechanism that burns unused rewards to further reduce the amount of ASTR in circulation. In total, three functions soften the overall rate of increase in ASTR:

1. In the Astar Substrate environment, 80% of the ASTR used for gas fees are burned.
2. In the Astar zkEVM environment, network activity reduces the amount of ASTR in circulation. Most importantly, ETH earned from Sequencers is used to buyback and burn ASTR (see above for details).
3. In the new dApp staking model, unused rewards are burned.

ASTR is the native token of the network, having ultimate utility by serving various functions, such as staking rewards, gas, and grants. Network activity and dApp staking burn mechanisms soften the overall rate of increase in ASTR.

## In Summary

ASTR is Astar Network’s native token, serving various functions including staking rewards, gas, and grants to provide essential utility for the ecosystem. Innovative features like dApp staking financially incentivize developers, while burning mechanisms counterbalance the ASTR supply increase. The ASTR token is integral for both developer incentives and network activity, with burned tokens and buyback mechanisms helping to moderate the increase in supply. Through these tokenomics, ASTR tokens’ utility is enhanced, further supporting the network’s growth and ability to attract developers and enterprises, particularly in the Japanese market.

\* This figure is an example, only, and should not be quoted.

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How the ASTR Token Brings Utility and Value to the Astar Ecosystem

---

We are excited to share the news that Astar zkEVM is now being powered by Gelato’s zkRollup as a Service (zkRaaS)!

Astar Network aims to simplify the way enterprises adopt web3, giving developers well-tested tools while offering users a familiar and comfortable experience. The Astar zkEVM, utilizing Gelato’s zkRaaS infrastructure, allows for fast transactions & low fees, and with security provided by the Ethereum network, offers an easy onramp for developers due to its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

Choosing a platform to host the Astar zkEVM on was a critical decision. Astar Network requires a solution that works seamlessly; not simply the infrastructure, but also the additional services required for smooth operations. Gelato’s zkRaaS platform was a perfect fit, providing hosting, monitoring, and operational services for Astar’s new Layer 2 on Ethereum. Gelato brings together various essential web3 services on a single platform, supported by a decentralized network of infrastructure node operators.

> Gelato’s zkRaaS solution speeds up our development process, playing a crucial role in helping Astar succeed in the web3 space without the need for additional engineering talent. —Maarten Henskens, Head of Foundation at Astar Network

#### Learn more about Gelato services available on Astar zkEVM:

* [Web3 Functions:](https://docs.gelato.network/developer-services/web3-functions) Connect your smart contracts to off-chain data & computation by running decentralized cloud functions.
* Block Explorer: via Blockscout integration
* [Automation](https://docs.gelato.network/developer-services/automate): Automate your smart contracts by executing transactions automatically in a reliable, developer-friendly & decentralized manner.
* [Relay](https://docs.gelato.network/developer-services/relay): Give your users access to reliable, robust, and scalable gasless transactions via a simple-to-use API.
* [Account Abstraction SDK](https://docs.gelato.network/developer-services/account-abstraction): Gelato has partnered with Safe, to build a fully-fledged Account Abstraction SDK, combining Gelato’s industry best gasless transaction capabilities, with the industry’s most secure smart contract wallet.

#### Benefits for the Japanese market:

Major Japanese companies can now use and scale web3 technologies on the Ethereum blockchain, thanks to Astar zkEVM, Gelato, and Polygon CDK.

Astar’s new L2 is designed to be an Ethereum ecosystem gateway for Japanese companies looking to use blockchain technology. With partnerships with Gelato zkRaaS and Polygon secured, Astar is providing a robust and reliable infrastructure to support a growing ecosystem, while moving the network closer towards becoming the foundation for the next billion web3 users.

The Astar zkEVM is scheduled to roll out as testnet in late October 2023, which will allow Astar to engage with Ethereum’s extensive developer and user communities! Get involved with Astar zkEVM today!

---

### About Gelato

Gelato is web3’s decentralized backend empowering builders to create augmented smart contracts that are automated, gasless & off-chain aware on all major EVM-compatible blockchains including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Optimism, zkSync, and many more. Over 400+ web3 projects have relied on Gelato for years to power the execution of millions of transactions across DeFi, NFT, and Gaming.

### About Astar Network

Astar Network is the gateway for projects across enterprises, entertainment & gaming in Japan and beyond, driving global adoption and delivering web3 to billions. It leverages a cross-virtual machine powered by Polygon and Polkadot to offer customizable blockchain solutions that accelerate web3 adoption. With zk-powered Ethereum L2 Scaling (zkEVM), EVM, Wasm, and a cutting-edge ecosystem, Astar delivers robust, secure, and interoperable web3 technology. 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 that is seamlessly compatible with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on Ethereum.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

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Astar Network Leverages Gelato to Provide Infrastructure Services for Astar zkEVM

Layer 2 scaling technology is essential due to several limitations inherent to Layer 1 networks such as Ethereum. Understanding why we need Layer 2 scaling solutions requires close examination of the underlying challenges they are designed to address.

One of the primary issues with Ethereum is its limited transaction throughput of only around 15-30 transactions per second (TPS). This limitation arises from the block size and block time, which are designed to maintain network security and decentralization but at the cost of speed.

When the upper limits of the capabilities of a Layer 1 blockchain are being tested and traffic is saturated, users must pay higher gas fees (transaction fees). This can make using Ethereum and other EVM blockchains prohibitively expensive, especially for smaller transactions, defeating the purpose of a decentralized economy by effectively limiting access to the network during times of congestion to only those who can afford to use it.

Network congestion not only increases transaction costs, but also leads to slower processing times and queuing up of user transactions. This can present as a terrible user experience, at best, and disastrous financial ruin in the worst case scenarios. For example, when transactions get ‘stuck’ due to temporarily rising gas costs users will often attempt to retry them, leading to duplication and possible unintended consequences. Sadly, even in 2023, learning how to cancel or override transactions based on their nonce is still a prerequisite for users to be able to utilize blockchain safely and effectively. Compounded by the difficulty managing long and cryptic account numbers and seed phrases, poor UX hinders the use of dApps and blockchain technology in general, preventing mainstream adoption.

Fortunately, Layer 2-based solutions are coming to the rescue.

Initially, the vision for scaling Ethereum had a heavy focus and reliance on sharding, a process that splits the network into several smaller portions (shards) to spread the load. However, after the development and rising popularity of rollups, with user adoption plotting a course somewhat akin to a hockey stick, the Ethereum community and its developers have adapted their strategy towards favoring Layer 2 Rollups with sharded Data Availability.

## **What types of Layer 2 solutions are available for Ethereum?**

Ethereum's Layer 2 scaling solutions encompass a diverse range of technologies, each designed to enhance transaction speed, reduce costs, and improve the network's overall efficiency. These include:

**State Channels**, like Raiden and Celer Network, facilitate direct off-chain transactions between participants, with the final state later recorded on the Ethereum blockchain. They are ideal for applications needing high-speed, bi-directional transactions, such as gaming or streaming services, offering instant transactions and enhanced privacy at reduced costs. However, they require users to lock up funds and work best for repeated interactions between the same parties.

**Sidechains**, including Gnosis chain and Polygon PoS Network, are not truly Layer 2 scaling solutions, but independent blockchains running in parallel to Ethereum, connected through two-way bridges. They offer a customizable environment for dApps, providing flexibility with faster and cheaper transactions. The trade-off is that their security relies on their own, potentially less robust, consensus mechanisms because they do not post state changes and transaction data back to Ethereum Mainnet.

**Plasma**, exemplified by platforms like OMG and Loom, create smaller child blockchains linked to the main Ethereum chain, based on Merkle trees. These child chains handle numerous transactions with EVM-equivalence, with only the final blocks and state data recorded on the main chain. This approach is versatile, catering to a broad spectrum of applications from DeFi to gaming, significantly enhancing throughput and reducing main chain congestion. Yet, Plasma can face challenges with complex exit procedures and long withdrawal times of 7-14 days, as well as data availability.

**Rollups** come in two varieties: ***Optimistic*** Rollups, like Optimism and Arbitrum, assume transactions are valid by default, verifying them on-chain only if challenged, and ***ZK*** Rollups (Zero-Knowledge Rollups), such as Astar zkEVM and zkSync, which bundle transactions and use zero-knowledge proofs for verification. Both kinds of rollups are well-suited for DeFi and NFT marketplaces, offering reduced fees and increased throughput. Optimistic Rollups, however, are affected by delayed withdrawals due to a fraud challenge period, while ZK Rollup platforms typically face limitations in smart contract compatibility due to their complex cryptographic computations and lack of EVM-equivalency\*.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ejW69UtXknelLFRU_OFJahLsVXlDoV7PUu7gHenWRdrlHQBgELkbA5kLXMySogbVKdheAn_f2rFoif9IGCR9CZHYdM5YmNFqXfsVdNkXHIMhmWflBJLhYIxmJDQfEbrjaQJy69m71e2DCAPw6XNmk00)

Lastly, **Validium**, the newest Layer 2 scaling solution, such as StarkWare’s StarkEx or Polygon’s Avail, is similar to ZK rollups but stores transaction data off-chain, further boosting scalability. Being ideal for high-capacity applications such as exchanges and gaming, it offers tremendous throughput and low costs. The primary concern with Validium though is the off-chain data storage, which carries with it certain centralization, censorship, and security-related implications.

Each type of Layer 2 solution addresses Ethereum's scalability challenges in unique ways, balancing trade-offs between security, decentralization, and throughput. Their applicability largely depends on the specific needs and nature of the application they are intended to support, but generally, Layer 2 scaling is trending towards use of ZK and Optimistic Rollups as popular favorites, and many players well-known in the web3 industry have announced plans to roll with their own solutions moving in that direction.

## **How do ZK Rollups compare to Optimistic Rollups and now, Valadium?**

ZK Rollups, Optimistic Rollups, and Validium are all Layer 2 scaling solutions, but they differ in their approaches to handling transactions, data availability, and security. Understanding these differences is key to determining which solution might be better for any specific use case. Let's compare them:

### **How do ZK Rollups work?**

ZK Rollups are a type of Layer 2 solution that help reduce the load on the main Ethereum blockchain by processing transactions off-chain. The "ZK" in ZK Rollup stands for Zero-Knowledge Proofs, a cryptographic method that allows one party to prove to another party that a statement is true, without revealing any information about the statement itself. This is key to maintaining security and privacy.

ZK Rollups work by grouping (or "rolling up") multiple transactions into a single transaction. These grouped transactions are then processed off-chain. Once the transactions are processed, the rollup generates a cryptographic proof, known as a SNARK (Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge), and submits it to the main blockchain. This proof confirms that the batch of transactions has been correctly processed.

In ZK Rollups, all transaction data is stored on the main blockchain (Layer 1). This ensures high data availability, meaning users can always access their funds and data even if the Layer 2 network experiences issues. By doing this, ZK Rollups significantly reduce transaction fees and increase the throughput of the underlying network by offloading computational workload from the main chain. They also provide a high level of security and data availability, both of which are guaranteed by Layer 1.

While ZK Rollups offer improved throughput compared to Layer 1, the need to store all data on-chain can limit scalability to an extent and might increase costs compared to other Layer 2 solutions that don't store all data on-chain.

**How do Optimistic Rollups work?**

Transactions are executed and recorded on a separate Layer 2 chain, but unlike ZK Rollups, they don't use zero-knowledge proofs for instant validation. Transaction data is also posted on-chain, similar to ZK Rollups, but it is assumed that transactions are valid by default and computation is only run on-chain in case of a dispute (hence finality is "optimistic"). This requires a "fraud proof" mechanism and a challenge period for disputes, but offers increased scalability at a cost of having generally slower finality times than ZK Rollups, due to the challenge period.

### **How does Validium work?**

Unlike ZK and Optimistic Rollups, where transaction data is stored on the main blockchain, Validium stores this data off-chain. This significantly reduces the storage load on the main blockchain, allowing for higher scalability.

Validium typically relies on a set of trusted third parties or committees to store the off-chain data. These committees are responsible for maintaining data integrity and availability.

While Validium inherits the security guarantees of zero-knowledge proofs for transaction validity, data availability committees introduce additional counterparty risks. Users must trust these entities to maintain and provide access to the off-chain data. By trading off a degree of security for storage efficiency, however, and offloading data from the main blockchain, Validium can process a higher number of transactions per second at a lower cost compared to solutions such as Optimistic or ZK Rollups that store all their data on-chain.

## **Conclusion**

In conclusion, ZK rollups offer a balance of security, decentralization, and scalability, while optimistic rollups prioritize simplicity and compatibility with Ethereum's execution model, though compromising on time to finality and therefore some capital efficiency.

Validium, on the other hand, maximizes scalability and efficiency but also requires trust in off-chain data management.

As blockchain technology evolves, these solutions may also adapt, offering more nuanced and optimized approaches to Layer 2 scaling.

**Learn more about Layer 2 scaling solutions:** 

<https://astar.network/blog/introduction-to-zero-knowledge-proofs-39331>

<https://astar.network/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-optimistic-and-zk-rollups-39524>

**Start building on Astar zkEVM:**

<https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/zkEVM> 

---

## **About Astar Network**

Astar Network is the gateway for projects across enterprises, entertainment & gaming in Japan and beyond, driving global adoption and delivering web3 to billions. It leverages a cross-virtual machine powered by Polygon and Polkadot to offer customizable blockchain solutions that accelerate web3 adoption. With zk-powered Ethereum L2 Scaling (zkEVM), EVM, Wasm, and a cutting-edge ecosystem, Astar delivers robust, secure, and interoperable web3 technology. 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 that is seamlessly compatible with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on Ethereum.

[Website](https://astar.network/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AstarNetwork) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Z3nC9U4) | [Telegram](https://t.me/PlasmOfficial) | [GitHub](https://github.com/AstarNetwork) | [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Astar%5FNetwork/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/AstarNetwork)

\*Astar zkEVM is fully EVM-equivalent due to advances in zk prover technology made by Hermes, now a part of the Polygon tech stack and CDK.

bafybeiblkhkpv6wvni45ggi3zwm6omqfxnbvqgoardtomjk3dotmworfvm

Ethereum Layer 2 Scaling Technologies Explained

The Graph is a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data that makes it possible to query data that is difficult to query directly.

Projects with complex smart contracts such as Uniswap and NFT projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club store data on the Ethereum blockchain, making it difficult to read anything but the most basic information.

In the case of Bored Ape Yacht Club, it’s possible to perform basic read operations on the contract such as getting the owner of a certain Ape, getting the content URI of an Ape based on their ID, or the total supply, as these read operations are programmed directly into the smart contract. More advanced real-world queries and operations like aggregation, search, relationships, and non-trivial filtering however are not possible. For example, if we would like to query all Apes owned by a certain address and filter results by one of its characteristics, we cannot rely on the contract itself as it cannot provide historical information.

To obtain this kind of data ourselves, we would need to process every transfer event ever emitted from the BAYC smart contract, read the metadata from IPFS using the Token ID and IPFS hash, and then aggregate all the results. Put simply, to answer these kinds of relatively simple questions, it would take hours or even days for a decentralized application running in a browser to obtain a result.

As a solution, a server could be used to process the transactions and save them to a database, and an API endpoint could be configured on top to query the data. However, this would open up a whole new can of worms, which is why The Graph exists.

## **GraphQL**

The Graph makes use of a structured query language called GraphQL, developed and then later open-sourced by Facebook. GraphQL provides a flexible and more efficient alternative to the traditional REST API through use of a strongly typed schema, allowing for the structuring of highly precise queries that return only the data developers need, via a single endpoint.

The Graph is powered by hundreds of independent Indexers running [Graph Node](https://github.com/graphprotocol/graph-node), serving data queries to developers across the web3 ecosystem. Indexers identify blockchain data based on information provided by subgraphs.

## **Subgraphs**

Subgraphs are open APIs that can be created or queried by anyone. It’s essentially a definition created by a developer that specifies which data The Graph should index from the blockchain, and how it should be stored. Once a subgraph is published to The Graph Network, it can be easily queried using an API key.

To define a subgraph, developers write a manifest and a set of GraphQL schemas. This instructs Indexers on The Graph which events to listen for on the blockchain, and how to map event data to entities that can be queried using GraphQL. Since developers can define their own subgraphs, they have considerable flexibility in the way they index and expose blockchain data to their applications. Alternatively, dapp developers can query preexisting subgraphs already available on The Graph Network if they meet their data needs.

**Running a Graph Node to index data on Astar Network**

Astar Network may be unique in the sense that it spans across a variety of smart contract platforms in both the Ethereum as well as Polkadot ecosystems. This makes running a Graph Node for Astar a little more complex than doing so on smaller networks, as three production networks (zkEVM, Wasm, and EVM), and their testnet + canary counterparts all need to be indexed to capture metrics and events end-to-end, which also requires substantially more compute and storage resources. There are other nuances to running Astar nodes as well, for example, RPC nodes on the Polkadot side will default to the Wasm vs. EVM smart contract chain, so an additional flag needs to be specified to begin indexing EVM transactions and events if that is unexpected.

To learn more about supporting Astar network infrastructure and challenges at scale, consult our [official documentation](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/nodes/) and join Maarten for an AMA on (The Graph) Indexer Office Hours on Tuesday, December 19th at 6pm UTC in The Graph Discord.

If you would like to jump right in and start running a Graph Node to index blockchain data on Astar, check out [this walkthrough](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/integrations/indexers/thegraph).

**In Summary**

In conclusion, The Graph represents a pivotal innovation in the world of blockchain and decentralized applications. By leveraging GraphQL for efficient and precise data querying, it addresses a critical gap in the blockchain ecosystem — providing dapp developers with the ability to easily access complex data from smart contracts and blockchain events. The Graph offers developers the flexibility and power to create tailored subgraphs that are low cost, performant, and permissionless. This not only simplifies data retrieval from the blockchain but also opens up new possibilities for the development of sophisticated and data-rich decentralized applications. As blockchain technology continues to evolve and integrate into various sectors, The Graph stands out as an essential tool for developers looking to harness the full potential of blockchain data.

---

## **About Astar Network**

Astar Network is the gateway for projects across enterprises, entertainment & gaming in Japan and beyond, driving global adoption and delivering web3 to billions. It leverages a cross-virtual machine powered by Polygon and Polkadot to offer customizable blockchain solutions that accelerate web3 adoption. With zk-powered Ethereum L2 Scaling (zkEVM), EVM, Wasm, and a cutting-edge ecosystem, Astar delivers robust, secure, and interoperable web3 technology. 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 that is seamlessly compatible with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on Ethereum.

bafybeian6nyijlmcrr7s3vrpfomdvc4olzkmm5sqm6iygkmk5bikxo6zcy

Separating Web3 Signals from the Noise with The Graph

@Darwinia is a crosschain bridge protocol built on Substrate that is spanning the gaps on the path towards a fully decentralized and interconnected #Web3 #InternetOfTokens 

bafyreigbouyd6ngmfa46rzqomvbpn55o322le36f2gtm6egiaaazscif34

The future is all about Interoperability, which is the foundation Darwinia Network is built on.

The Graph is a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data that makes it possible to query data that is difficult to query directly.

Projects with complex smart contracts such as Uniswap and NFT projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club store data on the Ethereum blockchain, making it difficult to read anything but the most basic information.

In the case of Bored Ape Yacht Club, it’s possible to perform basic read operations on the contract such as getting the owner of a certain Ape, getting the content URI of an Ape based on their ID, or the total supply, as these read operations are programmed directly into the smart contract. More advanced real-world queries and operations like aggregation, search, relationships, and non-trivial filtering however are not possible. For example, if we would like to query all Apes owned by a certain address and filter results by one of its characteristics, we cannot rely on the contract itself as it cannot provide historical information.

If we wanted to obtain this kind of data ourselves, then we would need to process every transfer event ever emitted from the BAYC smart contract, read the metadata from IPFS using the Token ID and IPFS hash, and then aggregate all the results. Put simply, to answer these kinds of relatively simple questions, it would take hours or even days for a decentralized application running in a browser to obtain a result.

A better solution would be to use a server to process the transactions and save them to a database, and an API endpoint could be configured on top to query the data. However, this would open up a whole new can of worms, which is why The Graph exists.

## **GraphQL**

The Graph makes use of a structured query language called GraphQL, developed and then later open-sourced by Facebook. GraphQL provides a flexible and more efficient alternative to the traditional REST API, allowing for the structuring of highly precise queries that return only the data developers need, via a single endpoint.

The Graph is decentralized and is powered by hundreds of independent Indexers running [Graph Node](https://github.com/graphprotocol/graph-node), serving data queries to developers across the web3 ecosystem. Indexers identify blockchain data based on information provided by subgraphs.

## **Subgraphs**

Subgraphs are open APIs that can be created or queried by anyone. It’s essentially a definition created by a developer that specifies which data The Graph should index from the blockchain, and how it should be stored. Once a subgraph is published to The Graph Network, it can be easily queried using an API key.

To define a subgraph, developers write a manifest and a set of GraphQL schemas. This instructs Indexers on The Graph which events to listen for on the blockchain, and how to map event data to entities that can be queried using GraphQL. Since developers can define their own subgraphs, they have considerable flexibility in the way they index and expose blockchain data to their applications. Alternatively, since The Graph is permissionless and open-source, dapp developers can also query pre-existing subgraphs already available on The Graph Network if they find a subgraph that meets their data needs.

## **Running a Graph Node to index data on Astar Network**

Astar Network may be unique in the sense that it spans across a variety of smart contract platforms in both the Ethereum as well as Polkadot ecosystems. This makes running a Graph Node for Astar a little more complex than doing so on smaller networks, as three production networks (zkEVM, Wasm, and EVM), and their testnet + canary counterparts all need to be indexed to capture metrics and events end-to-end, which also requires substantially more compute and storage resources. There are other nuances to running Astar nodes as well. For example, RPC nodes on the Polkadot side will default to the Wasm vs. EVM smart contract chain, so an additional flag needs to be specified to begin indexing EVM transactions and events if that is unexpected.

To learn more about supporting Astar network infrastructure and challenges at scale, consult our [official documentation](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/nodes/). If you would like to jump right in and start running a Graph Node to index blockchain data on Astar, check out [this walkthrough](https://docs.astar.network/docs/build/integrations/indexers/thegraph).

## **In Summary**

As the decentralized data layer for web3, The Graph represents a pivotal innovation for accessing blockchain data and building decentralized applications. By leveraging GraphQL for efficient and precise data querying, it addresses a critical gap in the blockchain ecosystem — providing dapp developers with the ability to easily access complex data from smart contracts and blockchain events. The Graph offers developers the flexibility and power to create tailored subgraphs that are low cost, performant, and permissionless. This not only simplifies data retrieval from the blockchain but also opens up new possibilities for the development of sophisticated and data-rich decentralized applications. As blockchain technology continues to evolve and integrate into various sectors, The Graph stands out as an essential tool for developers looking to harness the full potential of blockchain data.

## **About The Graph**

The Graph is the source of data and information for the decentralized internet. As the original decentralized data marketplace that introduced and standardized subgraphs, The Graph has become web3’s method of indexing and accessing blockchain data. Since its launch in 2018, tens of thousands of developers have built subgraphs for dapps across 40+ blockchains - including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Celo, Fantom, Gnosis, and Avalanche.

As demand for data in web3 continues to grow, The Graph enters a [New Era](https://thegraph.com/blog/the-graph-roadmap-new-era/) with a more expansive vision including new data services and query languages, ensuring the decentralized protocol can serve any use case - now and into the future!

Discover more about how The Graph is shaping the future of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and stay connected with the community.

Follow The Graph on [X](https://twitter.com/graphprotocol?s=20), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegraph/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/graphprotocol/?hl=en), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheGraphProtocol), [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/thegraph/), and [Medium](https://medium.com/graphprotocol)! Join the community on The Graph’s [Telegram,](https://t.me/GraphProtocol) join technical discussions on The Graph’s [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/vtvv7FP).

## **About Astar Network**

Astar Network is the gateway for projects across enterprises, entertainment & gaming in Japan and beyond, driving global adoption and delivering web3 to billions. It leverages a cross-virtual machine powered by Polygon and Polkadot to offer customizable blockchain solutions that accelerate web3 adoption. With zk-powered Ethereum L2 Scaling (zkEVM), EVM, Wasm, and a cutting-edge ecosystem, Astar delivers robust, secure, and interoperable web3 technology. 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 that is seamlessly compatible with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on Ethereum.

bafybeiggwdtw74vrwf2kyljhexj2xfkx6hsh5ueeflwfcxtdu2om5oxvay

**TL;DR:**

* EIP-4844 introduces blobspace, a data storage solution for Ethereum to efficiently manage L2 transaction data (via Blobs).
* Data blobs will reduce transaction costs for Ethereum rollups because they don’t require permanent storage on Ethereum, making them cheaper per byte.
* Astar zkEVM is built with the Polygon CDK in Validium mode. The transaction fees are already low because the transaction data is not stored on Ethereum.

On March 14, the Dencun upgrade will go live on Ethereum Mainnet. Dencun includes six EIPs related to Ethereum’s execution logic. The most important among these is [EIP-4844](https://www.eip4844.com/), which introduces a special resource exclusively for Layer 2’s that will reduce transaction fees.

Beyond EIP-4844, Dencun is set to bring several other improvements, including some aimed at tidying things up on the opcode side, as well as improvements to staking, validating, and communication between the two layers. Those other improvements are:

* [**EIP-4788**](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-4788) **– improving communication between Ethereum’s consensus and execution layers**
* [**EIP-6780**](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-6780) **and** [**EIP-5656**](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-5656) **– fixing problematic opcodes**
* [**EIP-7044**](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7044) **and** [**EIP-7045**](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7045) **– for improved staking and validator experience**

These are some of the new features coming to Ethereum due to the Dencun upgrade. We also have [EIP-1153](https://www.eip1153.com/), set to introduce opcodes for ‘transient storage’ that are expected to reduce costs further and improve efficiency.

**🚨 Exactly how much EIP-4844 will reduce transaction fees is unknown, but current estimates are from 2x - 5x.**

---

### **Now, what are blobs?**

Blobspace is a storage management concept often used in database systems to efficiently store and manage large objects, such as binary large objects (BLOBs). In the context of data availability on Ethereum, blobspace is the counterpart to the concept of blockspace, as a representation of blobs capacity.

Blobs is a low-cost alternative to calldata, the current data storage resource for Rollups. Both calldata and blobs are forms of persistent memory. However, whereas calldata needs to be stored permanently as a part of Ethereum transaction, blobs are stored for around 18 days. This provides enough time for nodes to ensure that transaction data is available in the event of a liveness issue while also removing the storage burden that calldata imposes on the network.

One important difference between calldata and blobs is that calldata can be used in the exact amount in which it is needed. Blobs, on the other hand, have to be bought whole (128KB per blob) and can’t be shared between L2s.

**So, blobs in general will be cheaper than calldata when there are enough transactions to fill the blob.** In the case of some L2s, this means that there may be occasions in which it is cheaper to post transaction data as calldata.

Blobs pricing is similar to EIP-1559\. The number of blobs that can be attached to a block ranges from 0 to 6, but 3 is the target. If blocks keep having more than the target 3 blobs, the price will continually increase. This means we can expect blobs price to go up when there is more demand from Rollup L2s in the future.

---

### What can we expect from EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding)?

The Cancun-Deneb upgrade will not implement full Danksharding. EIP-4844 is often referred to as 'Proto-Danksharding', named after Ethereum researchers Protolambda and Dankrad Fiest. It serves as a preliminary version of Danksharding and will establish most of the cryptographic foundations necessary for its full implementation.

Once EIP-4844 is in place, the remaining work to implement Danksharding will be confined to the consensus layer. Afterward, there will be no further requirements for the execution layer teams or the rollups themselves to transition from Proto-Danksharding to Danksharding. Rollups will simply be provided with more and larger blobs to work with.

---

### Astar zkEVM

Astar zkEVM is different with other L2s. It uses the Polygon CDK in a special mode called Validium, where the transaction fees are already cheaper. Yes, there are other L2s on Polygon CDK, but Astar zkEVM is the pioneer as the first L2 connected to the AggLayer.

Now, with the new improvement upgrade, including EIP-4844, Ethereum will be cheaper to use, especially for certain projects called rollups. Rollups help Ethereum handle more transactions at once. EIP-4844 does this by making it cheaper to store data on Ethereum and by using Blobs.

Even with this new upgrade, Astar zkEVM has a trick up its sleeve to keep costs even lower. It uses outside help (like DAC or third-party solutions) to manage its transaction data. This means it doesn't have to store all its data directly on Ethereum, which can get expensive even with blobs. Instead, it can choose the cheapest way to store data, whether on Ethereum or elsewhere. With the power of zk-technology, everything will still operate in a fully trustless environment.

This is really good for two reasons:

1. **It saves money**: By choosing where to store data wisely, Astar zkEVM can keep transaction costs low for everyone using it. Making Astar zkEVM future-proof.
2. **It's flexible**: Astar zkEVM can easily adapt to new changes or improvements in technology without being stuck with one way of doing things.

In simple terms, Astar zkEVM benefits from being modular and can always adopt the best option, saving transaction costs for the users while still getting what it needs. This makes it a strong option for people looking for cheaper and more efficient ways to use Ethereum, even as new improvements like EIP-4844 come into play.

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Astar zkEVM welcomes the Ethereum Dencun upgrade

---

### What do we mean by *Interoperability*?

**Cross-chain message networks** and **cross-chain asset bridges** are two kinds of blockchain interoperability solutions often referred to as ‘bridges’, though they differ in their use-cases and scope of operations. All cross-chain message networks support asset bridges, however, not all asset bridges are based on cross-chain message networks. Does that sound confusing? Let’s break it down a bit more.

To simplify things we can boil the differences down to complexity, where Asset Bridges are fairly self-explanatory and useful for the transfer of assets, Message Networks are a little more ambiguous due to their myriad number of potential use-cases — basically any interaction or function you can possibly imagine across chains, *including* asset transfer, can be carried out by a message network. 

While it may seem obvious to some that LayerZero supports the [Stargate](https://stargate.finance) asset bridge for Astar Network and ability to easily transfer assets between Astar zkEVM and Astar Substrate parachain, as well as a number of other networks, LayerZero’s underlying Message Network that acts as the foundational layer for the asset bridge is capable of ***so much more.*** Asset transfer is only the ***tip of the iceberg*** and a kind of ***tech demo*** in terms of its potential and what is actually possible *development-wise*.

Asset bridges are usually composed of independent sets of smart contracts and liquidity pools residing on different chains that are generally incompatible with one another. So for example, if you use bridge A to mint a synthetic asset on some destination chain, though the original *native* asset may be recognized by bridge B, it may not recognize bridge A’s synthetic representation of that asset on the destination chain. 

Message networks work on somewhat of a lower level by implementing a communications protocol between dApps and chains, so they can interoperate with one another and unify resources, such as liquidity pools.

## **How do cross-chain asset bridges work? and is it fair to compare them to Message Networks?** 

Cross-chain asset bridges (aka ‘bridges’) are designed specifically for transferring assets between different blockchain networks. They allow a cryptocurrency or token to be locked in a smart contract on one blockchain and a corresponding amount of a synthetic asset to be minted or unlocked on another, often denominated with a prefix such as L (for a LayerZero synthetic asset) or W as another example, for wrapped BTC (wBTC). This process enables users to move assets across blockchains that are otherwise incompatible with one another, though those assets may not be compatible from bridge to bridge on the same chains.

#### Why are Message Networks preferable to ‘Bridges’?

Cross-chain message networks are designed to enable general communication between blockchain networks and can handle not only asset transfers but also more complex interactions such as calling smart contracts across chains, sharing data, and triggering events. This broader functionality makes them more versatile than asset bridges, allowing them to fulfill a variety of use-cases, opening up the possibility for more complex decentralized applications that leverage the unique advantages of multiple chains.

#### I just want to get my ASTR over to Astar zkEVM. What else is there to do across blockchains?

There is exciting potential for many different cross-chain use-cases powered by LayerZero’s cross-chain message network, not only bridging ASTR from one blockchain to another. In the future we will see plenty of examples of:

* **Asset Bridges:** [Stargate](https://stargate.finance/transfer) officially supports Astar Network and the zkEVM.
* **Liquidity Sharing:** LayerZero can allow DeFi platforms on different blockchains to share liquidity. For instance, a lending platform on Astar parachain could lend assets to a borrowing platform on Astar zkEVM, increasing capital efficiency across the ecosystem.
* **Cross-Chain Swaps:** Exchange assets between chains directly without needing a centralized exchange or taking multiple steps through intermediary bridges, eliminating five or more steps compared to the typical new chain onboarding process (obtaining the native asset). This will simplify the user experience and reduce transaction costs.
* **Cross-Chain NFT Marketplaces:** Artists and collectors can mint, buy, and sell NFTs across multiple blockchains. LayerZero could enable a seamless marketplace where NFTs on Astar parachain can be traded with those on Ethereum or any of their other supported networks, for example, broadening accessibility of the market.
* **NFT Use Across Games and dApps:** NFTs created in one game on a particular blockchain can be used in another game on a different blockchain, enhancing the utility and value of NFTs as interoperable digital assets.
* **Cross-Chain Governance & DAOs:** DAOs operating on one blockchain can make decisions or vote on proposals that affect another blockchain. For example, a DAO on Astar zkEVM could vote to fund a project on Astar parachain, with LayerZero facilitating the transfer of funds and execution of the decision across chains.
* **Interoperable Smart Contracts:** Developers can build complex multi-chain applications that operate across multiple blockchains, leveraging the strengths of each. For example, a dApp might use Polkadot for secure and decentralized governance, Astar zkEVM for faster transactions, and IPFS for decentralized storage, with LayerZero coordinating operations across these platforms.
* **Load Balancing Across Chains:** Applications can distribute their workload across multiple blockchains to improve scalability and reduce gas fees. For example, a heavily used dApp could perform transactions on a less congested blockchain while maintaining its presence on another.
* **A Unified User Experience:** LayerZero technology can be used to offer users a seamless experience by abstracting away the complexity of interacting with multiple blockchains. Users can have a single interface to access services and assets across diverse blockchain ecosystems.

These are just a few examples that illustrate the potential of cross-chain message networks to create a more interconnected, efficient, and innovative blockchain landscape, enabling use cases that were previously difficult or impossible to achieve with single-chain or simple asset bridge solutions, and that defy the ability to simply be copy-pasted from one chain to another.

So, while cross-chain asset bridges are useful for straightforward asset transfers between blockchains, cross-chain message networks such as LayerZero offer broader interoperability by enabling a wide range of messages and interactions between chains, making it a more flexible and powerful tool for building complex, inter-blockchain applications. We are excited to start seeing LayerZero-powered dApps and experiences on Astar zkEVM!

**Learn more about LayerZero:** <https://layerzero.gitbook.io/docs/layerzero-v1/introduction>

**Start building cross-chain dApps:** <https://layerzero.gitbook.io/docs/faq/getting-started>

**Learn how to bridge assets to Astar zkEVM:** <https://docs.astar.network/docs/use/zkevm-guides/Bridge-Astar-EVM>

**Start bridging with Stargate:** <https://stargate.finance/transfer>

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#### About LayerZero

LayerZero is an interoperability protocol that connects over 50 blockchains, allowing developers to build seamless omnichain applications, tokens, and experiences. The protocol relies on immutable on-chain endpoints, a configurable Security Stack, and a permissionless set of Executors to transfer censorship-resistant messages between chains.

#### About Astar zkEVM

In the global web3 industry, Ethereum Layer 2 and ZK technologies are currently attracting significant attention. Astar zkEVM is a blockchain network developed and provided by Astar Network in partnership with Polygon Labs, a global player in the Web3 space, as an Ethereum Layer 2 incorporating ZK technology.

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LayerZero to Provide Cross-chain Interoperability for Astar zkEVM

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Astar Network

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Kahori

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Megan Skye's Space

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Megan Skye

The Graph is a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data that makes it possible to query data that is difficult to query directly.

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What do we mean by Interoperability?

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Layer 2 scaling technology is essential due to several limitations inherent to Layer 1 networks such as Ethereum. Understanding why we need Layer 2 scaling solutions requires close examination of the underlying challenges they are designed to address.

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TL;DR:

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DApp Staking for All Builders

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Marketing and Technical Content at Astar Network.

Astar Network provides the infrastructure for building dApps with EVM and WASM smart contracts offering developers true interoperability with cross-consensus messaging (XCM) and a cross-virtual machine (XVM). Astar’s unique Build2Earn model empowers developers to get paid through a dApp staking...

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The Power of thirdweb

Thirdweb offers a complete set of...

What is all this AI hype about?

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Web3 technologies are reshaping how we interact with the digital world. They are steadily making strides toward achieving a fairer, freer, and more user-centric internet, where data sovereignty is paramount. As Japan’s most popular smart contract platform, Astar Network is a key player driving...

Recently, Astar and Sony Network Communications announced the winning candidates of the web3 Incubation Program. As the program runs its course, we have released a series of articles highlighting the features and practical solutions being offered by each of the candidates, so our community is...

Opinions expressed here are my own and are not official endorsements of any project or team; or financial advice. Stay safe and practice proper risk management, and always do your own research.

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, Singapore-based Startale Labs Pte Ltd announced a $3.5 million USD investment from Sony Network Communications Inc. This strategic funding, acquired via a private placement of new shares, bolsters Startale Labs’ mission of driving global adoption of web3 technologies....

The initiative will bring real-world utility to NFTs in Japan, enabling the railway operator to strengthen its customer relationships



Tokyo, Japan / May 11, 2023 / Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) – part of Japan’s largest rail network, the Japan Railway Group – announced today that it will...

@Darwinia is a crosschain bridge protocol built on Substrate that is spanning the gaps on the path towards a fully decentralized and interconnected #Web3 #InternetOfTokens

Today we are thrilled to announce that Ledger now supports native staking on Astar Network! This is a significant feature update for our community as it allows ASTR token holders with Ledger devices to engage with the Build2Earn dApp staking system and other ecosystem dApps leveraging the Wasm...

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