Proposal for Astar Networks Long Term Growth Strategy to Achieve Leading Market Position

General
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Hello Astar community and team. As active participants in the Astar ecosystem we have followed the networks progress since its Plasm days and its evolution into Polkadot’s leading parachain. With the integration of Soneium and Startale Groups broader efforts, Astar stands at a pivotal moment. This proposal outlines a special strategy to position Astar as the premier blockchain platform. We aim to drive sustainable growth targeting a market capitalization exceeding five billion dollars for ASTR.

Polkadot shows its upgrades like the JAM protocol from the Gray Paper which enables a decentralized supercomputer for smart contracts and PolkaVM for efficient RISC V execution are set for full rollout by late 2025. These align perfectly with Astar’s strengths in EVM and WASM interoperability. Astar can lead by fully integrating JAM to enhance scalability beyond current 300000 TPS potential allowing seamless fusion of Polkadot security with Ethereum liquidity.

Similarly, Soneium as an Ethereum Layer 2 built on the Optimism stack offers low fees and high throughput up to 150000 TPS focusing on gaming AI and consumer applications, backed by Sony and Startale this positions Astar for enterprise adoption in entertainment and beyond. Sota Watanabe’s vision for Web3 for Billions through Startale emphasizes practical business integration as seen in partnerships with Sony, Samsung, Mazda and Toyota.

Current Foundation and Opportunities:

Astar has grown steadily since launch with over 300000 wallets and peaks of 1.2 billion in TVL. Its killer features include: Multi VM support for EVM and WASM enabling developers to choose the best tools without compromise, dApp staking which rewards builders based on community support fostering a self sustaining ecosystem, The Astar Portal for seamless user interactions across EVM and Native sides , Cross chain capabilities via Chainlink CCIP making ASTR usable across Polkadot, Soneium and the Superchain.

Lessons from the zkEVM on Polygon shutdown highlight the need for cost effective demand driven expansions which we incorporate here. Polkadot’s ecosystem with around 50 active parachains offers collaboration potential such as with Hydration for cross chain liquidity without overextending into unproven models. Startale and Soneium extend this by bridging to Ethereum providing access to billions in liquidity.

We envision Astar as the Central Hub for Web3 uniting Polkadots shared security with Ethereum’s vast ecosystem. To reach a five billion dollar market cap we focus on compounding network effects similar to how Ethereum achieved depth through dApps and Solana scaled via user experience. This requires a phased approach emphasizing interoperability, enterprise integration and community governance.

Phase 1: Foundation Enhancements Q4 2025 to Q1 2026.

  • Integrate Polkadots JAM and PolkaVM fully to boost execution efficiency and privacy.

  • Add modular SDKs for Rust and ink developers.

  • Enhance the Astar Portal with AI driven tools for easier cross chain navigation between EVM, Native and Soneium sides.

Early JAM adoption positions Astar as Polkadot’s innovation leader proven by Polkadot’s history of parachain auctions driving adoption since 2021. This will attract developers increasing dApp count from current levels and TVL toward five billion dollars.

Phase 2 Ecosystem Expansion Q2 to Q3 2026.

  • Form the *Astar Alliance* with active parachains like Hydration for shared liquidity and Nodle for IoT integrations.

  • Use Soneium’s programs to incubate gaming and AI projects with grants up to 100000 dollars targeting Sony IP for real world assets.

  • Launch enterprise focused tools for tokenized assets in entertainment and automotive building on partnerships with Toyota and Mitsubishi.

  • Enable ASTR as the native token across Superchain with CCIP for seamless multi chain use.

Sota’s emphasis on business in blockchain aligns with Musk’s high standards and Bezos long term investments. Historical data shows ecosystems like Ethereum grew to 200 billion market cap through partnerships and utility. Astar can replicate this by bridging billions in CCIP enabled liquidity driving daily active users to one million and more.

Phase 3 Global Dominance Q4 2026.

  • Onward Pursue regulatory compliance for US and Asia expansion leveraging Japan’s supportive environment.

  • Invest in education and no code tools to empower billions per Sota’s vision.

  • Implement hybrid governance with on chain votes and off chain forums to ensure inclusivity.

Successful blockchains like Bitcoin at one trillion market cap thrive on network effects and adoption. “Jobs simplicity” and “Musk’s ambition” show that intuitive scalable tech wins. Astar multi VM and cross chain edge combined with enterprise backing will create defensible moats leading to exponential growth.

This strategy is focusing on validated demand. Polkadot’s upgrades provide technical lift while Soneium offers market access. Data from top chains shows utility and partnerships drive market cap and more users. Ethereum through dApps, Solana via scalability.

With Astar’s unique position we project 1.5 billion market cap by Q1 2026, 2.8 billion by mid year and over five Billions by 2027 through compounding effects.

We see a commitment to decentralization, innovation, community driven decisions and sustainable growth. This proposal is inviting feedback to refine it. Let’s discuss and refine this together to make Astar the blockchain for billions. Best regards, Community Contributor.

1 Like
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Hello, @Amil_Gaoul thank you for your participation in the forum first of all. Let me share my thoughts regarding your proposal:

Recently Astar changed from the Parachain Legacy Model to Agile Coretime Model, which was a significant advancement and shows our commitment to the Polkadot ecosystem. In addition to that, it opens the doors to implementing more updates in Astar’s runtime, like JAM, for example. What I mean is that this is a point that has already been under consideration by the engineering team.

The latest reports shared by different researchers from the Polkadot ecosystem show a significant decrease in developers using Ink! or in new projects within said ecosystem. With that in mind, would this make sense?

How do you propose to implement this? What exactly would the AI tools do in the Portal?

Regarding these points, this leads to significant resource consumption to implement it. We’re not closed to doing it but, you must keep in mind the other points that also consume resources: governance, Astar maintenance, sustaining other services like the Astar Portal, etc.

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Thanks for the update on Agile Coretime. That change really strengthens Astar’s place in Polkadot, letting us tap into upgrades like JAM without the old constraints. I get the concern over dropping Ink activity and fewer fresh projects across the space. It’s tough with the overall dip, yet Astar stands out thanks to its blend of EVM and WASM. This setup pulls in creators from lively areas, easing their shift without a full rework. Let’s sharpen the focus on weaving Astar tighter with Polkadot and Soneium. JAM retools the relay chain into something far more adaptable, handling huge loads while holding onto shared protection. With PolkaVM speeding things up and cutting costs, it matches Astar’s parachain role spot on. We could jump ahead by running early JAM trials on a modest, community-backed test setup. That pushes TPS well over 300,000 and smooths XCM transfers, all while keeping spend low from the start. Gavin Wood’s push for this in his recent talks stresses long-view efficiency, which fits Astar’s path. For Soneium ties, the Chainlink CCIP setup already lets ASTR flow freely, backed by partnerships that bring in tools like Aave for lending and Uniswap for swaps right on the L2. To build on this, picture making ASTR the go-to token for fees and stakes across the board—Polkadot’s security layer, Astar’s hub, and Soneium’s fast apps. Add unified bridges in the Portal for instant shifts between Native, EVM, and Soneium, plus shared staking rewards to lock in users. This turns ASTR into the heart of it all, drawing billions by linking everyday uses like gaming through Sony or tokenized assets from big names. The vision here lifts ASTR beyond our circle, making it a staple in the wider crypto world for seamless entry. With adaptive token rules already in play—like the 4.3% cap and burns—ASTR gains staying power, pulling in institutions chasing real value. We’ve seen how core assets thrive by bridging ecosystems; this setup does that, fueling growth through network ties. A compact group could sketch the initial steps, linked to votes for buy-in. Thoughts on that? Eager to dig deeper. Best, Community Contributor

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Hello, it’s a pleasure to read through your proposal. I think you’ve done a great job gathering interesting ideas, though I’d love to have more context or a broader picture to better understand how to execute the strategy.

That said, Phase 1 really caught my attention: “Enhance the Astar Portal with AI-powered tools to simplify cross-chain navigation between the EVM, Native and Soneium sides.” It would have been great to see a bit more clarity on this point, as I can certainly understand how an AI-driven user experience could have a positive impact. In Phase 2 you mention: “Launch enterprise tools focused on tokenized assets in entertainment and automotive, based on partnerships with Toyota and Mitsubishi,” which I found to be an attractive point of study. However, you don’t specify the methodology to be implemented or the parameters for measuring results. Regarding Phase 3, you mention: “Implement a hybrid governance with on-chain voting and off-chain forums to ensure inclusion.” This is essentially what already exists in Astar. For now we don’t have 100% on-chain governance; the forum is precisely the bridge for conversation for those who are not yet fully involved in the ecosystem. In summary, I think the intention to give more momentum to the chain is very good, but it would be interesting to review the methods to achieve those results.

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Thanks for jumping in with your thoughts—it’s great to see community input like this sparking more discussion. Your point on exploring real-world apps beyond gaming hits home, especially with the traction Soneium’s getting in areas like tokenized assets and AI-driven tools. Building on that, strengthening the links between Astar, Polkadot, and Soneium could unlock those broader uses. With JAM’s progress—now at version 0.7.1 and eyeing a full rollout soon—it reshapes Polkadot into a more dynamic backbone, perfect for handling complex tasks like decentralized AI or IoT networks that need quick, secure processing. Gavin Wood’s recent emphasis on this as a “Web3 supercomputer” in his Web3 Summit talk aligns spot-on with Astar’s parachain setup. We could kick off with low-key trials, like a community-supported test environment to blend JAM’s efficiency with Astar’s multi-VM flexibility, ramping up XCM for effortless asset moves without heavy overhead. On the Soneium side, the existing Chainlink CCIP bridge already makes ASTR versatile, flowing between Polkadot layers and Ethereum’s reach. Recent tie-ups, like Aave’s launch for lending and Uniswap v4 for smooth trades directly on the L2, add real muscle to DeFi plays. To amp this up, imagine positioning ASTR as the central piece for everything from gas payments to staking rewards across the trio. Unified Portal bridges could handle instant transfers between Native, EVM, and Soneium environments, while shared incentives pull in more builders and users. This not only boosts everyday adoption—think Sony-backed entertainment or enterprise assets from partners like Toyota—but also cements ASTR as a key player in the bigger crypto landscape, easing entry for millions through reliable, low-cost networks. The fixed supply shift to 10.5 billion ASTR, paired with burns and the 4.3% inflation limit, gives it solid ground for long-term value, drawing in serious players looking for stability. Approaches like this have powered major assets by focusing on cross-system ties and practical utility, creating loops that grow the whole space. A focused team or community circle could outline the first moves, with governance nods to keep everyone aligned.

You’re right that adding more depth on execution would strengthen the plan, and I’ll aim to fill in those gaps here based on what’s already underway in the ecosystem. The broader picture ties back to Astar’s core strengths: its parachain role in Polkadot, the smooth links to Soneium, and positioning ASTR as the central token driving it all. With recent shifts like the full move to Agile Coretime on September 1, which frees up dynamic scaling, and Polkadot’s 2.0 launch last week boosting overall network efficiency, the timing feels right to build on these for measured growth. On Phase 1, the idea around enhancing the Astar Portal stems from making cross-chain navigation even more seamless without overcomplicating things. The Portal already does a solid job handling bridges between Native, EVM, and now Soneium sides, plus listing dApp staking projects where users lock ASTR to back builders and earn rewards. To clarify, this isn’t about adding flashy extras—it’s about refining what’s there, like streamlining XCM transfers with Polkadot or CCIP flows to Soneium for quicker asset moves. For execution, start with a community proposal to test small updates on a devnet, funded through existing dApp staking rewards (which have distributed over 10 million ASTR so far). Measure success by tracking Portal usage metrics, like a 15-20% uptick in bridged volume or staked ASTR, over the first quarter. This keeps costs low while directly supporting JAM’s upcoming efficiencies—now at version 0.7.1 and gearing toward full rollout—which could push TPS well beyond 300,000 by integrating PolkaVM for faster runs. For Phase 2 and the enterprise tools on tokenized assets, the foundation comes from Startale’s established ties with players like Toyota and Mitsubishi. These aren’t starting from scratch; Startale has run hackathons with Toyota, Mazda, and others through partners like Hakuhodo and NTT Data, focusing on real-world Web3 applications in automotive and entertainment. The methodology could involve launching pilot programs—say, tokenizing vehicle data or digital collectibles—via Soneium’s L2 for low-fee testing. Steps include: 1) Forming a working group with Startale reps to outline specs, 2) Using the Spark incubator for grants up to $100,000 to devs building these tools, 3) Integrating with existing Soneium partners like Aave for lending against tokenized assets or Uniswap for liquidity. To measure results, set clear KPIs: TVL in new tokenized pools (target $500 million in the first year), active partnerships example(two major deals formalized), and user onboarding (aim for 500,000 new wallets tied to these apps). This builds on Soneium’s 150,000 TPS capacity and ASTR’s role as the native token across chains, creating loops that pull in enterprise value without straining resources. As for Phase 3 and governance, I appreciate you pointing out the current hybrid setup—the forum serves as that vital off-chain bridge, fostering discussions before on-chain votes, which keeps things inclusive for newcomers. The suggestion here is to evolve it slightly for scale, perhaps by adding more on-chain elements like automated proposal tracking or weighted voting based on staked ASTR durations. Execution could roll out via a governance vote on a trial basis, starting with low-stakes decisions to test inclusivity. Metrics might include participation rates example(30% increase in unique voters) and resolution speed for proposals. This isn’t a full overhaul but a tweak to handle growth as ASTR becomes the core asset linking Polkadot’s security, Astar’s hub, and Soneium’s apps, ultimately onboarding more users through reliable ties. Overall, the strategy leans on steps that compound Astar’s position, avoiding big risks while aiming for that Billion Users Sota’s vision through network effects. With updates like Bifrost joining dApp staking and the community call tomorrow on September 16, there’s momentum to refine this further. Best, Community Contributor

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I’m glad to see discussions like this happening on the forum.

Personally, I honestly think it’s difficult to build any strategy without understanding what Astar Evolution Phase 2 will involve. The proposal you’ve shared doesn’t seem to take Phase 2 into account, and since it will likely have the biggest impact so far, it’s hard to ignore.

It’s also likely that the Astar Foundation is already planning its strategy with Phase 2 in mind.

Who do you envision executing your proposal, and how? Are you thinking of driving it in a community-led way as a DAO?

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Thanks for weighing in—it’s encouraging to see team perspectives like yours fueling these talks. You’re spot on that Astar Evolution Phase 2 is a game-changer, and I regret not weaving it in more explicitly from the start. From what I’ve gathered, Phase 2 builds directly on the zkEVM sunset in Phase 1, shifting full focus to Astar L1 on Polkadot while forging even deeper ties with Soneium. Sota Watanabe’s updates highlight ASTR stepping up as the central token in this unified setup, powering everything from fees to rewards across chains. Maarten Henskens has teased it as one of the biggest enterprise plays in blockchain, potentially involving massive collabs that could skyrocket adoption. With JAM’s latest push—now at version 0.7.1 and prepping for rollout—it lines up perfectly to amp Astar’s scalability and cross-chain flow. To tie this into the proposal, let’s adapt the phases around Phase 2’s rollout, expected soon based on recent announcements. In our Foundation Enhancements (Phase 1 here), we’d prioritize JAM integration on Astar L1 to hit those efficiency gains PolkaVM brings, like faster XCM transfers without the old limits. This sets up Ecosystem Expansion (Phase 2) to leverage Soneium’s enterprise momentum—think tokenized assets via Startale’s partners like Toyota or Sony, measured by TVL growth and new wallet inflows. Global Dominance (Phase 3) then scales governance to handle the influx, building on the hybrid model with more on-chain tools for broader inclusion. On execution, I see this as fully community-driven, evolving into a DAO structure to keep it decentralized and aligned with Astar’s ethos. Ecosystem Agents could lead working groups—drawing from the Agent Program 2.5 updates that emphasize advocacy and grants—while the Community Council (with its balanced core-team, agent, and community mix) oversees votes. Start with forum polls to form teams, fund pilots via dApp staking rewards (already over 10 million ASTR distributed), and track progress through KPIs like bridged volume or active stakers. This way, it’s not top-down; it’s us building together, much like how Startale’s vision for billions onchain starts with empowered communities. Gaius sama’s forum insights on governance tweaks reinforce this—focusing on transparency and resets where needed keeps trust high. If the Foundation has Phase 2 plans brewing, blending them in could make this even stronger. What details on Phase 2 can you share to refine it further? Let’s align and push ASTR to the forefront. Best, Community Contributor

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Thank you again for your contribution and enthusiasm! I feel that you’ve been very focused on JAM and Astar’s L1 activities.

My concern is that the Astar team seems to be allocating about 99% of its resources to Soneium, while the L1 is mainly serving governance, staking, and nurturing a few projects that are encouraged to migrate to Soneium and explore the Ethereum ecosystem.

I also feel that Solidity and EVM are becoming the industry standards over Substrate — especially with the launch of PolkaVM.

On top of that, the Polkadot community itself hasn’t really appreciated Astar for quite some time, with proposals from Giotto supported by Shawn Tabrizi and governance decisions excluding Astar from all DOT marketing campaigns on the grounds that “ASTR doesn’t give back to DOT and isn’t positioned as a DOT product.”

That said, XCM isn’t really a tool that holds much relevance today within Astar’s ecosystem. Of course, technical feasibility is fundamental, but the liquidity coming from other parachains into Astar doesn’t represent significant financial data.

The key question is: how much financial and human resources should really be allocated to these improvements? And what benefits it will really brings to Astar strategy?

This is a proposal I genuinely support, but it will depend on Startale’s efforts — and I’m not sure how strong their BizDev approach currently is, since they’ve been focusing heavily on technical aspects, cloud services, and account abstraction. It might be ideal to involve a team member once a concrete proposal is structured in this direction. I’m fully supportive of us focusing on this point.

That’s true… Astar phase 2.0 will shape the future of Astar. We have to wait to understand better the approach Astar Foudation will take.

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I agree with Pitcoin, Astar has been unfairly excluded from the Polkadot ecosystem by some bad actors.

However, the current economic benefit from Polkadot to Astar and vice versa is very little.

As an agent, in my content I always include Astar as a parachain to continue fighting for that space.

On the other hand, I add that Polkadot is not a network that has a lot of activity because operating there is very complex. Astar has taken various paths to facilitate the entry of users in an easy and secure way, and it is currently still building to achieve this. One of the best developments is Account Abstraction; we hope that every dApp that is developed can adopt it.

Polkadot must learn a lot from Astar, and we as a parachain must empower Polkadot—that’s the rule and how it should be. I understand your concern and I encourage you to continue including this type of conversations in the forum, as they help our community clear up doubts.

Finally, I think that DeFi is the center of the crypto universe and from there everything else should start; DeFi is the backbone. Right now, there are interesting DeFi dApps on Soneium that have included ASTR; there are also interesting dApps on Polkadot like Hydration and Bifrost that have included ASTR. The point is that we have to undo the complexity in DeFi, make it simpler and more suitable for users—in this way, liquidity will enter and flow to other projects like gameFi, AI, infra, among others.

The economic value of the networks is their greatest strength, and DeFi is there for that. I am sure that the teams will achieve a harmonic system where the different interests and ways of working converge.

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@Vangardem @pitcoin777

Thanks for sharing your insights Pitcoin and Vangardem—it’s clear both of you care deeply about Astar’s direction and that’s what makes these discussions so valuable. I agree that Phase 2 of Astar Evolution will define a lot moving forward. From Sota Watanabe’s updates it’s set to tighten the bond between Astar L1 and Soneium even more with ASTR at the center driving fees staking and cross-chain utility. While details are still unfolding the focus seems to be on making ASTR the key asset that bridges Polkadot’s security with Soneium’s speed and enterprise reach. This could address some of the L1 concerns by channeling resources back to strengthen governance and staking on Polkadot while fueling growth on Soneium. On the resource split you’re right that Soneium has drawn heavy attention lately with its L2 push backed by Sony and Startale. But L1 remains vital as the foundation for shared security via Polkadot and tools like dApp staking which has already pushed out over 10 million ASTR in rewards. Allocating say 20 to 30 percent of efforts to L1 upgrades like early JAM testing could pay off big. JAM at version 0.7.1 is gearing up for rollout and with PolkaVM it promises faster cheaper XCM transfers that could revive liquidity flows from other parachains. Even if current volumes are low tying this to Soneium’s 150000 TPS could create real financial upside—think higher TVL from unified DeFi plays and more stakers locking ASTR for yields. The benefits? Stronger network effects where L1 stability draws in institutions while Soneium handles mass adoption pulling billions onchain as Startale envisions. About Polkadot relations the exclusion from DOT campaigns stings especially with voices like Giotto and Shawn Tabrizi pushing for treasury reforms that favor value add over just spending. As a parachain Astar can lead by example empowering Polkadot through shared tech like account abstraction which simplifies entry and boosts activity. Agents like you are already doing great work highlighting this in content—let’s amplify that to show ASTR gives back by bridging ecosystems. For the enterprise side Startale’s ties with Toyota Mitsubishi Hakuhodo and NTT Data are solid from past hackathons on automotive and entertainment tokenization. Their shift toward bizdev alongside tech like cloud services fits well for pilots on Soneium. To make it concrete a working group could form via the forum outlining specs for tokenized assets integrated with Aave lending or Uniswap liquidity. Fund it lightly through Spark grants up to 100000 dollars and track with KPIs like 500 million TVL in new pools or 500000 fresh wallets. This depends on Startale but involving a team member early as you suggest could lock it in. DeFi is absolutely the backbone as you said—simplifying it unlocks everything else. With ASTR flowing into dApps on Soneium and Polkadot spots like Hydration for liquidity or Bifrost for liquid staking we can cut complexity through better abstraction and cross-chain tools. This harmonic system you mentioned converges interests by making ASTR the core entry point for users and builders alike. Execution wise a community-led DAO makes sense starting with forum proposals and votes through the Community Council. Ecosystem Agents could spearhead groups for JAM pilots or DeFi tweaks keeping it decentralized and tied to real metrics. What do you both think about kicking off a poll here to gauge support for a balanced L1 Soneium resource plan? Let’s align on Phase 2 as it drops and build ASTR for Billions . Best Community Contributor

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@Amil_Gaoul I’m sorry but I don’t understand what you’re saying, you’re only citing information that we already know, you’re not giving concrete conclusions or actions to carry out, which limits the conversation to simply repeating what is already known.