State of burndrop

[pitcoin777]

I understand the concern, and I think it’s worth addressing directly rather than letting speculation fill the gap. I think the misconception here is that Astar = Startale.

What’s happening here is a structural evolution, not an abandonment.

Startale and Astar were always meant to be distinct entities. What we’re now seeing is that separation becoming formalized which is actually a sign of maturity, not disengagement. Sota focusing on enterprise chains where Startale has direct distribution is a business decision that makes sense for Startale as a company. It does not determine what happens to Astar.

The Astar chain remains. The Foundation remains. The Collective (which is us) takes on a more central role in shaping the ecosystem’s direction going forward. That’s what decentralization is supposed to look like in practice.

A few things worth keeping in mind:

Phase 2 is still being actively pushed, and Startale remains involved in that process. The Burndrop is still on the table and being pursued on the political side. Maarten holds roles in both organizations, which means the bridge between the two doesn’t disappear. The separation being planned is organizational, not adversarial. When Startale shift its focus towards something else doesnt mean that Astar will discontinue. Startale doesnt control Astar.

The honest question we should be asking isn’t “why is Startale leaving?” it’s “what does Astar look like when it’s fully community-governed, and are we ready to build that?”

That’s the conversation I’d rather be having. Because the answer to that question determines whether the chain thrives or stagnates and that answer sits with the Collective, not with Startale.

[Marroz]

Hi and thanks for your reply.That Astar and Startale are formally separate entities is now clear to almost every investor. We’ve moved past that misunderstanding.However, from all official communications it’s evident that Astar Network is still part of the Startale ecosystem, currently made up of Astar itself, Soneium, and the upcoming Strium chain. In addition to the synergy on paper, practically all the key team members hold roles in both organizations.Let’s speak plainly, without beating around the bush. Let’s set aside for a moment the past discussions about how much energy we spent pushing initiatives that seemed to benefit Startale more than Astar. Let’s also set aside the double roles of team members: the only reason I’d accept them is if they genuinely ensure active collaboration between the entities.My point goes beyond this. The simple and direct question is: Does Astar belong to the Startale ecosystem or not? We need a clear answer.If the answer is yes, then you need to explain clearly and thoroughly why there is this total lack of concrete consideration for Astar from the other parts of the ecosystem. Once Astar FI is launched and ready, will we, in practice, be able to actively integrate with the rest of the ecosystem’s chains (and not just on paper)? This wouldn’t mean depending on Startale or letting it decide for us. It would however mean real consideration, involvement, and collaboration.So far, the facts risk conveying exactly the opposite message of what’s written in the documents. Recent examples: at WebX Asia, Astar wasn’t even mentioned (not even in small print) on Startale’s banners. And with the Ondo Finance collaboration, Astar wasn’t even remotely considered for that role — instead an external project was chosen that pumped 20% in a bear market, while the founder publicly celebrated it. Meanwhile Astar continues to slide beyond 400th position in rankings.If we are completely independent entities, then why is the founder the same, why do key team members work for both, and why is it written everywhere that we are part of the Startale ecosystem? But if we are part of it, why are there no visible collaborations, preferred lanes, joint projects, or even basic concrete consideration?At this point the legitimate question is: if in practice Astar is not involved, mentioned, or valued within the ecosystem it’s supposed to be part of, what are we even doing here?Don’t talk to me about Burndrop, whose timing and conditions we still don’t know. What I’m asking for are clear, concrete, and unquestionable answers based on facts — not generic phrases like “we collaborate closely” or “Astar is not secondary.” I want to see tangible actions and clear signals.I’m ready to contribute to growing Astar as a chain managed by the Collective, but I need real clarity. Otherwise all the nice words about decentralization risk remaining just words on paper.I look forward to your thoughts on these points.I’m not hiding from answering your question sincerely. My honest answer is that if we had to run alone today — managed by the Collective or anyone else — we would be worse than stagnant: we would be invisible. Today we are such a small and insignificant chain, due to enormous past mistakes and a cruel market, that we would have zero chance of emerging without being part of what we actually belong to.

[pitcoin777]

I think most of these questions can only be properly answered by the core team or the Foundation leadership.

I understand why the community often directs these questions to Sota, but the reality is that Maarten has been leading Astar’s day-to-day direction for years now, while the vision of Astar evolving into a community-driven network has become increasingly stronger.

It’s also important to separate the roles of the different entities. Startale is a company with its own business objectives. Astar is a blockchain. Ultimately, Astar’s future shouldn’t be determined by a private company, but by the Astar Foundation together with the Collective and its governance.

My understanding is that Startale provided the initial infrastructure and support that helped Astar grow, but the entities are legally and operationally becoming increasingly independent. In the long run, Astar has to find and build its own path.

Regarding WebX Asia, I don’t think anyone outside Startale can really explain the reasoning behind their branding decisions. They showcased what they believed made sense for their company. Whether we agree with those choices or not, I don’t think directing criticism at Startale is particularly effective. If the community believes Astar deserved greater visibility, then that discussion should primarily be directed at the Astar Foundation, which is responsible for defining and promoting Astar’s strategy as an independent network.

I do think there is still a connection between Astar and Startale, but probably much less than many people assume. That’s exactly why I believe Astar shouldn’t rely on Startale to define its future. It needs to establish its own identity, priorities, partnerships, and growth strategy.

That said, I do agree with your comments regarding Soneium. I believe the team itself has recognized that the collaboration did not produce the level of mutual ecosystem growth many of us expected. The original vision of bringing the Soneium community closer to Astar—and creating benefits in both directions—simply hasn’t materialized to the extent many community members hoped.

Today, it seems the Foundation is shifting its focus toward initiatives that are conceived and executed in-house rather than relying on broader ecosystem synergies. Whether that proves to be the right direction will ultimately be measured by results.

I also think it’s fair for the community to ask for more clarity about how Astar intends to position itself going forward. If the vision is for Astar to be an independent blockchain with its own strategy, then that message should be communicated clearly. If there are still strategic relationships within the broader ecosystem, then the community naturally expects to see concrete collaboration—not just organizational diagrams.

These are legitimate questions, but they’re ultimately questions for the Foundation and the core team to answer.

[Marroz]

Thank you for your response. I completely agree that it is primarily up to the core team members and the Foundation to provide clear answers on these matters. I am convinced that the entire community — yourself included — wants to hear them directly from the founder and the core team. That is precisely why I am raising the issue here.

That being said, I am struck by how this situation is often presented in black-or-white terms, when it is so clearly grey. Astar is supposedly becoming independent… yet it remains part of the ecosystem. It is supposedly not secondary… yet it is effectively ignored. Astar and Startale are supposedly separate entities… yet key members work for both. The list goes on.

For Astar, being part of this ecosystem is not an option: it is a necessity if we want to have any chance of standing out, especially given our current size and visibility. Let’s be blunt about it.

However, if we want to genuinely look like we are part of something, we need to do it consistently. Right now, we are stuck in the middle: bearing all the downsides of the relationship with very few of the benefits.

To put it bluntly: if this connection exists but is weak and barely visible, we should at least allocate adequate resources to ensure that our external perception matches what is stated on paper. If we are going to maintain this relationship even just as a “facade,” then let’s at least make sure the facade is well-built. I am not asking for Astar to be integrated into every single major Startale project (the community has largely resigned itself to that), but we must at least fix our communication and visibility so that Astar doesn’t constantly look like the outcast.

[Maarten]

More than happy to reply to the purpose of this thread related to the burndrop.

The status of the burndrop after our POC is also from my POV too slow of a progress. This has nothing to do with Astar as a Foundation but mainly because the partners behind the concept that have been delaying massively on their end.

This doesn’t mean things are not being progressing… I truely hoped these replies were made end of August so I could have told everyone: the waiting created something more clear. The burndrop will still happen and the plan is still on the table and to be honest, its even stronger as it was from the first initial mention.

[Maarten]

Feel free to tag me with any further questions related to the burndrop in this thread.

Any other questions related to Astar Foundation, feel free to ask them through DM or open a new public thread in the forum. Appreciate everyone’s patience

[Gaius_sama]

Hi @Marroz, @kebitorrent, @Tom. I’ve read the thread, and I’ll answer directly.

Let me start with the fair part. I understand a quiet stretch can read as indifference. The honest reason is simpler: our weight is on building, not posting, and I didn’t want to return with a holding message that said nothing new.

One correction, because facts matter here. The Startale / SBI / Ondo announcement has nothing to do with Astar. Ondo is an RWA issuer; that deal was never an Astar surface. Reading ASTR’s absence there as a signal reads something into a partnership it was never part of.

On the bigger Astar-and-Startale question, I’ll be straight with you: I’ve laid out how these two relate in my earlier replies, and re-running that comparison every few weeks doesn’t serve any of us. Astar is on its own path, and I’d rather spend our shared energy on where it’s going than on relitigating it. On WebX specifically, the honest answer is that we don’t yet have the thing we want to show. Our resources are on AstarFi and getting it to private beta, and I’d rather present something real than be present for the sake of being seen.

On the calls to remove Sota through governance: Astar’s direction is set by the Foundation and the Collective through its governance bodies, not by how often any one person posts. I understand the frustration underneath it, but that fight isn’t the energy Astar needs.

So here’s where I’d rather your attention be. The most useful thing engaged holders like you can do for Astar right now is help us make Astar Fi genuinely good before the wider world sees it. That’s where our weight is, and where a stronger, more independent Astar actually gets built, not in another round on the past. When the private beta opens, I’d welcome the three of you in it, pointing the same sharp scrutiny you’ve brought here at the product we’re shipping.

I’ll keep communicating when there’s something real to share. For now, our focus is Astar Fi.

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Gaius_sama

Astar Foundation

[Marroz]

Good morning Gaius,thank you for your reply. Allow me however to continue the discussion, because some points cannot be glossed over.I understand that the team’s full attention is focused on the development and delivery of AstarFi. I also understand the explanation regarding the Ondo deal and the fact that Astar has never focused on the RWA sector. I understand the broader point about the Startale-Astar relationship and that the chain is following its own path. Finally, I understand the reasoning behind WebX Asia: since AstarFi wasn’t ready yet, it didn’t make sense to be present just for the sake of being there.That said, there is a common thread running through all your answers: compatibility.Being fully focused on AstarFi is not incompatible with minimal promotion of the project and communicating synergy between the various entities. Not having explicitly targeted the RWA sector is not incompatible with proactive internal communication. I strongly doubt that Startale and SBI woke up one morning and decided to do an RWA partnership without having worked on it for months. We could have positioned ourselves, applied, or at least tried to take advantage of the opportunity — especially since the partnership dates back about a year ago.Not having the product ready for WebX Asia is not incompatible with being mentioned (even in small print) in the booth that represents the entire ecosystem. And the quality of communication matters more than the quantity: being the founder of Astar should not be incompatible with mentioning it and considering it in partnerships and development.I understand each individual answer, but overall I struggle to reconcile them.That said, I will be happy to test AstarFi with the same critical analysis I’ve used so far. I have no doubts about the technical quality of the product — the team has never disappointed me on that front. However, the main issue is not (only) the product itself, but the narrative that is being communicated externally. That’s where I feel there is still a lack of clarity and consistency.Thank you for your attention.

[Marroz]

Gaius, I wanted to avoid writing again but today’s post forces me to do so.I understand your explanation about Ondo. However, today’s post from the Collective (“The Shelf Is Changing”) clearly states that RWAs, together with treasury and money-market products, will be the ground on which AstarFi wants to build.If this is the declared strategic intention, then facing an important RWA partnership like the one with Ondo (linked to Startale/SBI), only two possibilities arise:Either the intention of Astar to position itself in RWAs was not communicated in time, or it was communicated but Astar was consciously ignored in favor of an external partner.In both cases, this not only highlights a lack of synergy, but also gives the impression that Astar is being treated as useless or not up to the level, despite the objectives we publicly declare.