Japan and Korea are calling!

The fact that Japan has decided to make Web3 a national strategy is not news to the Astar Network community, but the consolidation of Astar as the chosen blockchain by the country to drive a paradigm shift after the “Lost 30 Years” is significant.

In early January, Sota Watanabe was invited by the Japanese government to participate in a global panel at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 – aiming to discuss technological solutions for urban and innovation challenges with the world's top leaders. The government desired Sota to participate as one of the global leaders and present (Startale and Astar) to the audience.

On January 25th, the Astar 2.0 Summit: 2024 Web Market took place with the aim of accelerating the mass adoption of Web3 by Japanese companies, given the imminent launch of Astar zkEVM. Business possibilities in Web3 were discussed by the participating companies, including:

• Okcoin Japan
• αU
• KDDI
• teamZ
• Polygon Labs
• Ox Consulting Group
• Nomura Holdings Co. Ltd
• New Economy
• Crypto times
• LGG Research
• Pacif Meta
• Web3 Pocket Campus
• NFT Media

The Head of Biz Dev in Japan emphasized that the zkEVM launch is scheduled for the end of February. The partnership with Polygon is aimed at streamlining usage for users and increasing the user base in Japan through ongoing collaborations.

One of the Astar Ecosystem Agents — You -, attended the event and summarized some sessions:

Session 1: Perspectives on the Web3 entertainment business in 2024

• As reported by a16z at the end of the year, NFTs will become ubiquitous.
• There will be more real-use cases and items with lower prices, not just expensive items.

Games are emerging more and more. You will not only make money, but the game quality will also improve.

Session 2: Perspectives on Web3 Financial Businesses in 2024

• First and foremost, RWA. With cases emerging in 2023, there will be even more cases this year.
• The approval of BTC ETF in the United States is expected to have an impact, and various companies will proceed with preparations.
• With the issuance of national stablecoins, they will be used in a wide variety of fields. The difference with other countries is diminishing.
• Regulations and tax systems are finally changing, and the atmosphere in the industry is rapidly evolving.
• Institutional investors will increasingly incorporate cryptographic assets into their portfolios.

Another rumor stirring up the Astar scene in Japan is the recent interview with Japanese congress members who are developing new policies for DAOs and Web3 in the country, along with a game-changing project for Japan.

The year 2023 was marked by Astar's expansion into the Korean market, with Sota himself stating it to be the most important and strategic market for blockchain and crypto. The decisive event for entering the country was the KBW2023, which played a key role in strengthening relationships with partners, conducting interviews with Japanese companies, and engaging with the Korean community.

One of the significant outcomes was the invitation to join the Busan Blockchain Alliance 2023, which aims to integrate Web3 into the public services of Korean cities. Additionally, Astar was listed on UPbit, the country's leading cryptocurrency exchange.

The core team member responsible for Astar's growth in Korea published the following data:

Current situation of Astar in the Korean market:

• The number of community members has doubled since October.
• The number of discussions has increased, approximately 100 to 200 per day.
• High ranking in the Upbit volume ranking (unit: Millions of KRW / 24h).

A partnership established between Astar and DeSpread, a leading blockchain consulting firm based in Seoul, aims to boost the adoption of Astar in Korea. The CEO of DeSpread is confident that 2024 will be the year when Web3 and blockchain enter the mainstream industries, marking the beginning of global mass adoption. According to the founder of the Astar project, the blockchain is the most proactive in creating real-life use cases while expanding into markets like Japan and Korea.