Astar Network, a layer-one smart contract blockchain platform within the Polkadot ecosystem, is pushing forward its Astar 2.0 Vision as part of its goal to drive mainstream adoption of blockchain technology and Web3. The company hopes to further decentralize Astar and bring Web3 to billions of users, positioning itself as a leader in the Japanese market by collaborating with major companies like Sony and Toyota, as well as the Japanese government.
Partnerships and Collaboration with Sony
Astar Network founder Sota Watanabe highlighted the platform’s collaboration with Sony as their most promising partnership in Web3. As part of this collaboration, Astar and Sony have begun an incubation program for 19 different projects, scheduled to be launched in the coming months. Demo Day, scheduled for June 18, will showcase these projects to an audience of around 200 participants, including companies and investors.
Astar in the Polkadot Ecosystem
Astar currently leads the parachain space within the Polkadot ecosystem. It aims to bring smart contract capabilities to Polkadot, providing both Ethereum native and protocol native smart contracts. Astar has also integrated a bridge to the Cosmos network, aiming to connect with other ecosystems as well.
Future Plans and the Landscape of Web3
Sota envisions Astar as a platform for the mass adoption of blockchain, with plans to potentially launch a stablecoin and greater integration between Web3 and real assets. The network already supports various sectors within the blockchain ecosystem, including the metaverse, artificial intelligence, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Sota aims to continue expanding Astar’s presence in Japan, Asia, and eventually the US as the regulatory landscape becomes clearer.