Astar Network News - APRIL

The Astar network emerged as a standout feature at ETHSeoul, a three-day event hosted in South Korea. This gathering drew together a diverse array of distinguished projects and notable figures, including the likes of Vitalik Buterin. As attendees explored the latest developments in blockchain technology, Astar's innovative approach and promising potential captured significant attention. Its presence underscored the event's significance as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge advancements within the blockchain ecosystem, marking Astar as a key player in the industry's ongoing evolution.

The Astar Foundation has allocated a total of $12,000 in prizes for projects that receive the highest ratings from Astar Foundation judges. The breakdown of prizes includes $3,000 for the first-place winner, $2,000 for the second-place recipient, and $1,000 for the third-place finisher. Additionally, specific categories are eligible for $2,000 prizes, such as Native DeFi Projects on Astar zkEVM, Gaming Projects Using Astar zkEVM Infra-tools, and AI or SocialFi Projects. This significant prize pool underscores the Foundation's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence within the Astar ecosystem, encouraging developers to push the boundaries of what's possible in decentralized finance, gaming, artificial intelligence, and social finance realms.

San Hyun (Rhee), Head of Economic Development, conducted a lecture on Astar zkEVM alongside members of the Polygon team. Surprisingly, over 55% of developers chose to build on Astar zkEVM, powered by @0xPolygon. Out of the 45 projects presented, 25 were developed on the Astar platform. This significant adoption underscores the growing interest and confidence in Astar's ability to provide robust and efficient infrastructure for blockchain projects.

On his Twitter account, co-founder Sota Watanabe announced that the moment has arrived to kickstart the global expansion of the Astar Network, following the successful completion of the blockchain category in Japan. This milestone signals a significant step forward in Astar's journey, as it prepares to extend its reach and impact beyond its initial borders. With this move, Astar aims to leverage its achievements and expertise gained from the Japanese market to establish a stronger presence on the global stage, marking a new chapter in its evolution as a leading blockchain platform.

The burgeoning growth of Web3 in Japan, championed by Astar Network, is leaving a notable imprint on the country's higher education landscape. With over 6,000 students enrolling in the blockchain course offered by the University of Tokyo, the fervent interest in this emerging technology is palpable. Such overwhelming demand has propelled the course to become the most sought-after among students, underscoring the increasing relevance and significance of blockchain within Japan's academic sphere.