GM Astar Community 
As we enter a pivotal moment in Astar’s journey, it is time to sunset the Astar zkEVM network and prepare for its migration to Soneium L2. This transition is not just a technical change but a deliberate step forward in our vision to build a more connected, efficient, and scalable ecosystem. Below, we outline the rationale, migration plan, and next steps for our Astar users and developers.
TL;DR - ACTIONS REQUIRED BEFORE APRIL 1ST 2025
- For Liquidity Providers:
- Remove liquidity from DEX and DeFi projects on Astar zkEVM.
- Use the native bridge on the Astar Portal to transfer assets (ETH, DAI, MATIC, USDC, USDT, WBTC, wsETH) to Ethereum.
- Bridge ASTR and DOT to Astar EVM via the Astar Portal or Stargate.
- For NFT Holders:
- No action required. The Astar Foundation will migrate eligible NFTs to Soneium L2 automatically.
- For Developers/Projects:
- ERC-20: Snapshot, mint tokens on the new chain, and communicate with your community.
- ERC-721: Migration will be handled by the Astar Foundation.
- Smart Contracts: Redeploy on the new chain (Astar L1, Soneium).
Background
The decision to transition away from Astar zkEVM was first shared during Astar Evolution Phase 1. By migrating to Soneium L2, we aim to consolidate resources and unlock greater potential for innovation and growth within our ecosystem.
As we gain greater clarity and momentum toward the successful launch of Soneium L2, the declining activity on Astar zkEVM reaffirms our decision to initiate the sunsetting process. We believe now is the opportune time to advance this transition and execute the necessary steps to ensure a smooth and strategic evolution from Astar zkEVM to Soneium for the Astar Collective & ecosystem.
Recent metrics on Astar zkEVM highlight the need for this shift:
- Total Value Locked (TVL): Dropped to $130k (source: DefiLlama - Astar zkEVM).
- DEX Activity: Only 93 transactions in the past 24 hours, with a trading volume of $4.276,87 (source: GeckoTerminal Astar zkEVM Pools).
- Transaction Decline: Daily transactions now average 2,000, compared to a peak of 99,999 per day in April 2024.
- New Accounts: Average of 15 new accounts daily since the Yoki Origins campaign ended.
- Smart Contracts: Fewer than 100 new contracts deployed over the past month.
- Predominantly bot-driven activity.
For those interested in deeper insights, explore:
- Astar zkEVM Block Explorer Stats
- GeckoTerminal Astar zkEVM Pools
- DappRadar Rankings
- DeFiLlama Overview
At an operational cost of $40,000-$50,000 USD per month (covered by Astar Foundation), sustaining Astar zkEVM no longer aligns with our long-term goals. These resources will be redirected to initiatives that better serve the Astar community and bolster ASTR value management through Astar and Soneium’s developments.
Sunset Plan
The migration to Soneium L2 is designed to prioritize a seamless transition for all stakeholders.
Key actions include:
- Disabling Deposits: Deposits to Astar zkEVM have already been disabled on our portal, including the native bridge and Stargate bridge (LayerZero).
- Gradual Closure: Liquidity monitoring will guide the timeline for deprecation. Explorers and historical data will remain accessible for reference and tax purposes.
- Enhanced Security: Anti-spam measures and increased gas fees will safeguard the network during this period.
- Comprehensive Support: Migration guides and dedicated assistance will ensure smooth navigation through this transition.
Migration Plan
As we transition towards Soneium L2, our focus is on ensuring a seamless and secure process for migrating all assets and tokens from Astar zkEVM. Each migration option is designed to address the unique needs of our community—whether you are a liquidity provider, NFT holder, or token creator.
For Users and Token Holders on Astar zkEVM
This section provides guidance for individual users, liquidity providers, and NFT holders on how to safely migrate their assets from Astar zkEVM to Soneium L2.
For Liquidity Providers:
-
Remove Liquidity:
- Withdraw assets and liquidity from DEX and DeFi projects on Astar zkEVM.
-
Native Bridge:
- Transfer ETH, DAI, MATIC, USDC, USDT, WBTC, or wsETH to Ethereum via the Astar Portal native bridge.
-
Stargate & LayerZero:
- Bridge ASTR and DOT via LayerZero on the Astar Portal or Stargate Finance. Transfers may take up to 6 hours to complete. To ensure transparency and track your transactions in real time, visit LayerZeroScan.
-
vASTR holders:
- For vASTR holders, unstaking can be completed effortlessly via Omni. Once the unstaking period concludes, ASTR tokens will be transferred automatically to Astar zkEVM and holders will need to transfer them to Astar EVM using the Astar Portal or Stargate Bridge. As with LayerZero transfers, you can monitor the status of your tokens through LayerZeroScan.
-
Third-Party Bridges:
For Other Fungible Tokens Owners (ERC-20)
Follow token projects’ announcements on their migration plan and take action accordingly if necessary.
For NFT Holders
No actions are required from NFT holders. The Astar Foundation will execute migration with the support of Sonova and Rarible in coordination with NFT projects.
This process involves taking a snapshot of all eligible NFTs on Astar zkEVM and then airdropping equivalent NFTs on Soneium L2. This ensures continuity by replicating ownership and metadata accurately onto the new chain. Here is what to expect:
- Marketplace Halt: Sonova and Rarible will stop supporting Astar zkEVM by January 31, 2025. Bluez is halt ing operations earlier in January.
- Snapshot: A snapshot of all NFTs on Astar zkEVM will be taken by the end of January.
- Migration Period: The NFT migration process will take place in February 2025.
- Post-Migration Announcement: Migration completion will be announced once executed.
What You Need to Know:
- NFT Trading will no longer be available on Astar zkEVM marketplaces after January 31, 2025.
- NFT holders do not need to take any action. The migration will be handled internally to ensure all assets are safely transferred to Soneium.
The following NFT collections have been selected for migration to Soneium: Yoki Origins, Meta Mazda, CASIO, Kokyo (Origami) JAL - Beyond Club, JR Kyushu Free - Beyond Club, JR Kyushu Paid - Beyond Club, Candy Girl 1st Anniversary, HIS, Onigiriman - mooon, Sashimi - mooon, UZNo (Sharkcollection) - mooon, DenDekaDen, City Pop Tokyo, Bitget Suzuki Jimny, Japan Creator Collection - mooon, Walkmon, Airian, DenShinSanKa, SNPIT Commemorative NFT Badge, DoF OG Pass, DEKSA, NEEMO, On1 Force, SkyLabs, PBADAO, Kamui Verse, CLOSEPA, and PACKS.
This seamless process ensures that your NFTs are preserved and integrated into the Soneium ecosystem without disruption.
For Developers, Projects, and Teams Who Built on Astar zkEVM
This section outlines the actions required for project teams and developers to ensure a smooth transition of ERC-20 tokens, NFTs, and smart contracts to the new Soneium L2 ecosystem.
For Fungible Tokens Projects (ERC-20)
We suggest token creators carry the following actions:
- Decide on your migration plan and inform your community
- Take a snapshot of token holders on Astar zkEVM.
- Mint equivalent tokens on the destination chain (Astar L1, Soneium, etc.).
- Distribute the new tokens based on the snapshot to ensure holder continuity.
- Share updates with your community.
For Developers: NFT Migration Process (ERC-721)
The migration of these NFTs from Astar zkEVM to Soneium will be conducted by the Astar Foundation in collaboration with Sonova and Rarible. No actions are required from NFT projects.
Developers involved in the NFT migration should note the following steps:
- Snapshot: A comprehensive snapshot of eligible NFTs and their holders will be taken on Astar zkEVM by the Astar Foundation.
- Token Re-creation: Equivalent NFT tokens will be minted on Soneium based on the snapshot data.
- Metadata Migration: All metadata, including images and attributes, will be transferred to ensure consistency across chains.
- Ownership Mapping: Ownership on Astar zkEVM will be replicated on Soneium to maintain continuity for NFT holders.
Collaboration with Sonova and other technical teams will ensure a seamless and accurate migration process for all NFT assets.
For Developers (Smart Contracts)
Redeploy existing contracts on the destination chain (Astar L1, Soneium, etc.) and verify them on the respective block explorers.
Timeline
- Transition Period: It began on January 7, 2025. Deposits have already been disabled, as announced.
- Sunset Date: Scheduled for April 1, 2025. We urge the community to migrate promptly.
Additional Tips
If you require gas fees for transactions on Astar zkEVM, you can use https://www.gas.zip/.
Next steps & Call to Action
We are excited about the transformative impact the launch of the Soneium mainnet will bring to the Astar community. This transition is a significant opportunity to innovate and grow together. Now is the time to take the necessary actions to ensure your assets are ready for this new chapter. By bridging your assets out of Astar zkEVM and preparing for Soneium L2, you are actively contributing to the next wave of progress within our ecosystem.
Thank you for your trust and support as we move forward into this exciting phase. Together, we will continue to lead innovation and create a thriving future for Astar.
For questions or assistance, reach out to us using this forum post or open a ticket on Astar Discord.
Astar Foundation & Startale Teams
