Astar Network, a renowned Web3 infrastructure platform with origins in Japan and a recent global expansion, has today announced the upcoming mainnet release of Astar zkEVM Powered by Polygon. This Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum is set to launch in late February, accompanied by a distinctive and original campaign called “Yoki Origins.”
Astar zkEVM offers a secure, scalable, and gas-efficient platform for Web3 projects and enterprises, harnessing the robust security and versatile toolset of the Ethereum ecosystem. Positioned as the inaugural zero-knowledge EVM chains powered by the Polygon CDK (Chain Development Kit), Astar zkEVM opens doors to Ethereum’s extensive developer resources and industry-standard infrastructure providers.
A diverse array of crypto-native projects and service providers are actively utilizing Astar zkEVM to build a range of experiences. Noteworthy examples include Quickswap, a primary DEX on the Polygon network; LayerZero, an omnichain interoperability protocol fostering complete interoperability between Astar zkEVM and the Astar parachain; and The Graph, an indexing protocol that organizes blockchain data and enhances accessibility through GraphQL.
Other notable projects include Rarible, an aggregated marketplace for NFTs spanning both Ethereum and Astar zkEVM; Dew, a significant NFT marketplace within the Polygon ecosystem; and Startale Labs, Astar’s prominent Web3 infrastructure provider. These entities showcase the versatility and integration potential of Astar zkEVM across various facets of the crypto space. In addition, several prominent enterprises in Japan are set to publicly integrate Astar zkEVM, introducing exclusive use cases to enrich the Astar community.
Yoki Origins Campaign Takes Center Stage
Right after the mainnet launch, Astar Network will kick off ‘Yoki Origins,’ a captivating journey for users to explore Astar Network’s unique characters inspired by Japanese Yokais, known as “Yokis.” Over 40 Web3 projects, creators, and enterprises will join this initiative. Following the mainnet launch, users are encouraged to collect and upgrade Yokis within the Astar zkEVM projects.
Through interactive Capsule Machines, referred to as “Yo-Ports,” participants can obtain Yokis and artistic creations contributed by various artists, enterprises, and builders. This campaign is designed to facilitate social logins and credit card payments, ensuring accessibility for individuals unfamiliar with Web3.
Astar Network will soon unveil the list of participating projects, showcasing a lineup that includes both international brands and talented individuals. Upon joining the campaign, users will receive a collection of personalized Yo-Ports, uniquely tailored for each project, easily identifiable by the prominent display of the brand name and logo.
Maarten Henskens, Head of Astar Network, said, “Astar Network is proud to be an early pioneer in the use of Polygon’s zero-knowledge technology and Chain Development Kit to enter the Ethereum ecosystem. Astar zkEVM will establish a bridge between Japan and the broader web3 ecosystem, with projects by top Japanese enterprises, famous IPs, and prominent industries to be unveiled soon. The Astar zkEVM launch campaign “Yoki Origins” will help demonstrate the extent of our ecosystem’s reach, while celebrating our Japanese origins in a way that’s uniquely Astar.”
Astar functions as the conduit for projects spanning enterprise, entertainment, and gaming to enter the Japanese market and beyond. By propelling the global adoption of Web3 to millions, Astar builds an ecosystem fueled by both Polkadot and Polygon, positioning itself as the foremost blockchain for the Japanese market.
The introduction of Astar zkEVM marks a cutting-edge Layer 2 solution, enhancing the scalability of Web3 experiences on Ethereum through ZK technology. Astar Network seamlessly incorporates an EVM equivalent environment into its protocol, ensuring a smooth integration with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on the Ethereum platform.
