• Astar Network, is set to introduce a ZK-powered Layer 2 (L2) chain on the Ethereum network, leveraging the Polygon Cross-Chain Developer Kit (CDK).
• Astar and the Japanese electronics giant Sony joined forces to steer Japan’s Web3 vision.

Layer 1 smart contract platform Astar Network announced that it is working with Ethereum’s Layer-2 scalability platform Polygon Labs to launch its own Layer-2 solution, Astar zkEVM.

Japan’s foremost blockchain platform, Astar Network, is set to introduce a ZK-powered Layer 2 (L2) chain on the Ethereum network, leveraging the Polygon Cross-Chain Developer Kit (CDK). This innovative ZK-powered chain will empower businesses in Japan and beyond to implement web3 strategies with enhanced speed, scalability, and security. Speaking on the development, Astar Network founder Sota Watanabe said:

“Working closely with Polygon Labs, Astar will also help enable enterprises to kickstart their blockchain initiatives, strengthening Japan’s role as the epicenter of the web3 movement”.

Astar joins the list of third-party zkEVM solutions powered by Polygon. Polygon Labs actively contributing to the development of zkEVM chains for Immutable, IDEX, and Palm Network in recent times.

Layer 2 blockchains created with the CDK can establish connections to a shared ZK bridge to facilitate interoperability, as previously announced by Polygon Labs last month.

The zkEVM, which stands for Ethereum Virtual Machine with Zero-Knowledge Rollups, offers a scalability solution compatible with Ethereum. This compatibility allows applications to use the same code as Ethereum, simplifying integration for developers by leveraging existing tools and infrastructure.

ZK-rollups, a key technology component of zkEVM, execute off-chain computations on Layer 2, resulting in faster and more cost-effective transactions, all while maintaining Ethereum’s robust security. Astar aims to promote blockchain adoption in Japan by attracting global entertainment and gaming projects to the market, especially for high-throughput applications.

Astor Network – Steering Japan’s Web3 Vision

Japan has garnered a reputation as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction, notably with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressing enthusiasm for web3’s potential to revolutionize the internet and drive social change during the WebX conference in July.

Astar, supported by Coinbase Ventures and Binance Labs, envisions its participation in this initiative. Japan has established national strategic zones aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of projects focused on web3 adoption and the practical application of blockchain technology. Watanabe said:

“By driving more enterprise adoption through zkEVM, we would also work together with the Japanese Government to enhance web3 as the national strategy”.

Astar and the Japanese electronics giant Sony joined forces in a web3 incubation program. This partnership concluded in June, with 19 projects selected from over 200 applications to debut on Astar’s platform.

Polygon Labs introduced its zkEVM technology in March, underscoring its significant role in the Ethereum network’s scaling efforts. The development of a robust ZK-based Layer 2 solution natively supporting Ethereum applications has been a focal point for various blockchain projects, including Polygon, Starknet, ZkSync, and Scroll, as they compete to advance this technology.