Astar: From dApp Staking to Astar's Financial Hub

Astar
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Hi @Vangardem

,first of all, I want to congratulate you once again and thank you infinitely for sharing this vision. It is powerful, ambitious, and truly impactful. The idea of transforming Astar into a real self-sustaining Financial Hub, with an eternal liquidity loop inspired by the Ouroboros, is one of the most original and sensible proposals I have read on the forum in recent times.That said, I believe that before diving into the technical details of your proposal (which is already very well structured), we need to address two enormous, almost insurmountable problems that affect the entire current Astar community.The deeply rooted habit of passive dApp Staking

For years, the system has rewarded holders with easy rewards, without effort and without risk.

We continue to distribute new ASTR to registered dApps, but the vast majority of them generate nothing concrete for Astar: zero real volume, zero active users, zero return to the ecosystem.

Those ASTR inevitably end up on the market (sold by projects or stakers), creating inflation + constant selling pressure, without anything coming back to the network.

Result: almost no one has ever truly used the dApps present on Astar L1.

Even if Aave or a top protocol landed directly on Astar tomorrow, most users would continue passive staking because it is more convenient and safe.

dApps are built, but we don’t really know for whom: we don’t have an average user who uses them, because we ourselves (holders and community) do not use them. In the end, we have a nice number of registered dApps just to “put on a show,” but zero real users.

Completely eroded trust

Many holders feel weakened by the fact that much of the value created over the years has gone to partners with whom we should collaborate, but who in the end have never returned what the entire Astar ecosystem gave them.

Today the treasury is reduced (also due to the market downturn), and many see the Burndrop as the last chance to “exit” the ecosystem rather than as a mechanism to strengthen ASTR.

Without trust, there will never be the active participation needed to make a financial Hub work.

In my opinion, these two problems are essential and must be solved first (or at least in parallel) with any technical proposal, even the best one. Otherwise, we risk building a beautiful Hub… but empty.For this reason, I propose a slightly revised and more aggressive version of your idea, designed specifically to attack these two problems at the root.Proposal: Astar Financial Hub v1 – with drastic cleanup and correct incentivesImmediate cleanup of dApp Staking

Reduce at least 90% of currently registered dApps (those without real users or significant volume).

Only 5-10 projects max remain that cannot integrate into a DeFi Hub (e.g., technical tools or base wallets).

All others are removed from the program or required to collaborate with the Hub.

The Hub becomes the main dApp in dApp Staking

The Financial Hub officially enters the dApp Staking program and receives the majority of residual rewards (low 2026 inflation).

Those who only want to stake without risk can do so on the Hub or on the few remaining dApps that cannot integrate.

This way, all passive capital still goes to finance the development and initial liquidity of the Hub or to support essential technical projects.

Collaborative projects receive only real revenue

dApps that can integrate (e.g., existing DEX, lending) exit the old inflationary system and receive exclusively a percentage of the real profits generated by the Hub (fees paid by users).

If they bring no liquidity or users → they get zero.

Passive staking yield always lower than active use

The APR of staking on the Hub (or on the few remaining dApps) must be structurally lower than the yield obtained by actively using the Hub (providing liquidity, lending, etc.).

Example: passive staking → max 8-10% APR.

Active use with risk → 15-30% or more, based on the real market.

This finally incentivizes real use instead of risk-free parking.

Management of residual inflation and Ouroboros cycle

New ASTR created in 2026 (now low inflation thanks to the supply cap) no longer go to useless dApps, but: 40% → direct buyback and burn on the market.

30% → liquidity and initial rewards for the Hub.

20% → development and marketing of the Hub.

10% → the few remaining technical dApps.

Simplified Ouroboros cycle: every 3 months, look at the volume of profits.

If high → ascending phase with more generous rewards for those using the Hub.

If low → descending phase with more buyback/burn and accumulation.

Concrete start

Immediate MVP (launch as soon as possible): lending/borrowing protocol + concentrated exchange pools. Lending: deposit stablecoins (USDSC and others) to earn yield, or deposit ASTR as collateral to borrow stablecoins.

Exchanges: main pools ASTR/USDSC, ASTR/ETH, ASTR/BTC (concentrated liquidity style).

Initial seed liquidity: a limited and reasonable portion of the remaining treasury (only what is strictly necessary to start the first pools, without compromising other essential funds).

This version retains all the power and poetry of your original idea, but directly attacks the passive habit and lack of trust, forcing the system to reward only real use.Thank you again for opening this very important discussion.

Obviously, I will not repeat here the concepts already expressed in my previous posts regarding the total autonomy of the Foundation, the absence of double roles, and similar topics.

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43

My answer may seem harsh and irritate some, but the dApp Staking system hasn’t worked and won’t work in the future. Currently, and in recent years, we’ve seen dApps withdrawing the value of ASTR, but this hasn’t led to volumes or new users.

I agree with @vangardem’s proposals.

And I would be more drastic in deciding to drastically limit the number of dApps.

It may seem and be boring but you have to attract speculators or liquidity providers (who must see returns between 40-60%)

or

as I have said several times in recent months you have to offer the user one or more ways to PLAY and to play you have to use and spend ASTR (Not USDT)

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My approach is straightforward: first eliminate those parasitic dapps to curb inflation, while the rest can be optimized and improved later.

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Thank you for sharing your vision.

I think that if we have to clean up first, trust is essential in any economy. I agree with moving at a steady pace, not too fast, so that users can try out the basic version and adapt to the new product. As you say, there’s no point in having a flawless product without a decent user base. I also think that if the initial product is good, then people will come to our dApp. I started with point two, and now regarding point 1, the community council is taking care of it. It is necessary to shut down empty and inefficient dApps.

I think this is great, because from the initial Ouroboros base, infinite calculations can be made, which can be sustainable for the hub. You just have to create the formulas and upload them to a smart contract. Congratulations on your contribution. It makes sense and was based on times of high and low liquidity. This is the community spirit of Astar: “Build.”

I really like it. It’s a good start, first concentrating enough liquidity without jeopardizing the protocol. It can be taken into account; in fact, it’s ideal, very sensible.

Finally, I firmly assert that the “intellectual property of this thread” and the theories outlined here, such as that of “Ouroboros,” be respected. Strictly speaking, this is directed at Astar and the Foundation, meaning that they can only be implemented in principle by the Astar community and its Foundation. Third parties have nothing to do with this, and use by third parties may be limited or null and void. I have more material based on my research, which I cannot disclose for reasons confidentiality. Of course, everything is academic and subject to amendment, but it is my duty to protect the community, and the information given here is limited for now to Astar and its future development. I am not part of the Foundation; I am only an agent and user of Astar who wants to see its ecosystem grow.

So @Marroz, this is yours too, and it belongs to the community. Always feel free to share your opinion and valuable contributions. Thank you very much.

If the Foundation requires it, I can provide details privately, such as contract logic and strategies for creating a sustainable Hub. This is ideal for ensuring that only this is applied to our ecosystem initially.

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Thanks Manu, I really share your vision. We must go on the offensive, and it’s not boring. dApps Staking will be very attractive if liquidity increases. Then, according to game theory, everyone will want to build to get their share. This defines the spirit of building sustainable dApps. If you want advantages, you must compete for them.

Thank you, I really appreciate your point of view.

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You have really summed up what needs to be done: first clean the house, then optimize it. Keeping it simple is always the best way to start. Thank you for your contribution.

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@Vangardem

Your post must be analyzed point by point, without overlooking anything, and I would like to focus primarily on the topic of cleanup and dApp Staking in this post. I agree that the ACC is handling the supervision of the activity and eligibility of dApps in the dApp Staking program, but based on the latest report drafted by them, the delisting of 7 dApps and the new, stricter parameters to remain in the dApp Staking program are not enough. It is clear that we are still far from an effective and thorough restructuring capable of revitalizing Astar. What we see is a partial intervention, akin to sweeping a broom through an abandoned house whose foundations are undermined by a structurally flawed system. It is not enough.We cannot afford to keep wasting time with half-measures or gradual adjustments. Astar’s situation demands a radical approach: first, the walls of this crumbling structure must be torn down, then rebuilt from scratch on solid foundations, and only afterward can the broom be used to keep it clean and operational. The failure is not limited to the 7 delisted dApps but extends to those still active in the dApp Staking program. Even if potentially valid, these produce “in a vacuum” because the system does not encourage real usage. Holders, thanks to the incentives of the past year that have favored Soneium or passive staking, prefer to keep ASTR idle or migrate elsewhere rather than use the dApps. It’s a paradox: we offer ASTR to stimulate production, but for whom? For what? If no one uses them, the problem lies in the model itself, not just the dApps.Let’s revisit the example of Aave, already mentioned before, because I believe it reflects reality, even though we lack definitive proof: if this protocol were to arrive on Astar, it would likely be ignored, stifled by a system that rewards inactivity rather than action. This confirms that the dApp Staking, in its current form, is an obstacle to Astar’s survival. A complete overhaul is necessary: the dApp Staking program should be reduced to hosting only the few dApps that cannot integrate into the Hub—such as tools, wallets, and the Astar Hub dApp itself—while all others, if capable of converging into the Hub and generating real profits through it, must do so there. No dApp outside these categories should receive rewards from dApp Staking; true revenue will only come from the Hub, provided there is concrete usage. I therefore invite dApps to reassess their position by a specific date, should this proposal gain traction and be approved: if they can integrate into the Hub, they should do so; otherwise, they should consider themselves excluded from any type of reward. Everything I’ve expressed in previous posts remains valid: rewards for those choosing passive staking will continue to exist in the dApp Staking program, but they must be necessarily lower than those the Hub or the dApps operating on it could potentially offer, thus encouraging active usage. The dApp Staking has marked the end of Astar and has lasted far too long: now, anyone wanting to work on Astar must bring tangible value to receive.With the Burndrop on the horizon and market dynamics continuing to exert pressure, every ASTR wasted on dApps that bring no value is an unsustainable cost. These resources could fund the development of zkEVM L1, the announced DEX, and the Financial Hub, projects that could breathe new life into the network and break the vicious cycle of passive staking. The latest ACC report acknowledges the ecosystem’s fragmentation and the treasury’s limitations, but without drastic action, these issues will remain unresolved. Accelerating the launch of the Hub and the DEX is crucial: we must create an infrastructure that enforces active usage and generates real profits, not perpetuate an outdated model that sinks Astar.One aspect to consider is the impact of a massive delisting: the dApp Staking locks up a significant amount of ASTR, keeping it out of the market despite the inflation caused by rewards. Eliminating nearly all dApps would release those ASTR—both from the dApps and the holders—potentially flooding the market and increasing liquidity pressure. I will write a response in the future and would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.The era of gentle adjustments and partial interventions is definitively over.

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I agree with you about dApp rewards. I’ve been saying for over a year that “ASTR has become an ATM where you can withdraw money” (and in a Telegram group in my country, which I won’t name, I was banned for saying this).

Over the past three years, I haven’t seen these dApps add value (or provide little value compared to what they’ve received) to the ASTR ecosystem. All they do is say: “We’ll put ASTR on our platform.” BUT, as we’ve learned, this isn’t enough.

From all the proclamations about STARTALE, ASTAR was supposed to be the core asset of Soneium (https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/24231521948441)
In the end, ASTR is one of the many tokens within SONEIUM. It’s better than nothing, but it’s not enough.

I hope @maarten in this Community Call (https://www.youtube.com/live/bSsGPZPOtYw?si=Ti8wCKUgb9E4n77u)
At around minute 55 of the video, it is mentioned that the ASTR token should be the only token needed to run a series of simple applications that aim to generate purchase or trading volumes.

I’ll briefly conclude (otherwise, some might think I wrote this post with AI) that if almost all dApps were eliminated, locked tokens would be released, both by the dApps and by their holders, potentially flooding the market and further increasing pressure on liquidity, which could have negative effects on the token’s value and the overall ecosystem.
I think they should be eliminated, but not all of them immediately, otherwise we could truly declare the death of the ASTR project.

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Agreed. Projects like neemo should have been taken down immediately after being stolen. Now it’s still sitting there with no one willing to handle it, and they actually need to initiate a voting process before anyone will address it. ASTR is being treated like an ATM.

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I agree that there is a need for structural reform of dApp Staking, but it might be better to discuss that separately from this thread.

This is something that often happens on the Astar Forum: topics with a different primary focus (even if they are related) end up becoming the center of discussion, which blurs what was originally meant to be debated.

While this thread is related to dApp Staking, I don’t think the points currently being discussed are as central to the original topic. For that reason, I’d like to propose splitting this into a separate thread.
That said, since Vangardem is the one who raised this topic, if he feels it is still aligned with the intent of the thread, then continuing here would also be fine.

Personally, I think this is a sufficiently large topic that it deserves its own separate thread.

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The logic you present is ideal. The issue of dApps hosted on dApp Staking needs to be analyzed in greater depth, but this should be done progressively. On the other hand, this falls within the criteria of moving from the unidirectionality of the ASTR token to multidirectionality.

@Marroz, create another post on the forum about this specific topic and we will continue to contribute solid criteria.

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Taking your perceptions into account, it is necessary to create a specific post.

Right now, the directionality of ASTR is very important to mitigate its sales velocity.

I invite everyone to create a post and follow up on this topic about dApp Staking and how it can be improved in the short term, how ASTR can be strengthened.

Don’t worry, there are long posts that have not been written with AI, so don’t hold back, always say everything you need to say. Thank you for this great conversation.

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I agree that a separate thread should be created. dApp Staking is a very broad topic, as is the Financial Hub, so it is best to separate them and propose ideas and insights in each thread.

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Q4 2025 Contribution Report - zkVAN/General
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I completely agree with your perspective, and that is precisely why, through the Astar Foundation Forward initiative, we have started this other thread: to have an honest discussion about the current state of dApp Staking and the ideas the community has for improving the mechanism.

I invite all members of this thread who wish to contribute to that specific topic to join the conversation, as @you425 indicated.

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Guys, I’m sharing this contribution from @tksarah It’s an excellent article about Comet Swap and how it works:

https://medium.com/@cctksarah/how-to-efficiently-grow-your-astr-with-castr-dc877294b008

The launch of Comet Swap fits in with the spirit of this thread.

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