Astar (ASTR) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) and supports multiple virtual machines (VMs), including Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and WebAssembly (WASM). Astar aims to provide a scalable, secure, and interoperable platform for developers to build a wide range of applications.

Astar's Build2Earn system is designed to grow the network in an innovative way, while simultaneously rewarding participants and builders. It allows developers to earn incentives for building and maintaining their decentralized applications, and users to earn incentives for supporting their favorite projects.

Astar Substrate is the backend technology powering Polkadot’s leading parachain. It allows developers to build across virtual machines seamlessly and tap into interoperability with Polkadot SDK, substrate-based protocols, and Ink! and Rust smart contracts.

Astar zkEVM is a Layer-2 scaling solution leveraging Polygon's zero-knowledge technology and Aggregation Layer (AggLayer) to facilitate off-chain execution and data availability, otherwise known as a Validium, with finality guaranteed by Ethereum.

Astar zkEVM offers some of the lowest transaction fees in the Ethereum ecosystem, full EVM-equivalence, native account abstraction, top-tier infrastructure integrations, interoperability and exposure, and established tools and libraries.

Developers can get started with building on Astar zkEVM by visiting the build section of the Astar website, where they can find more information on how to get started. Current developers within the Astar community can also benefit from the expansive developer resources present in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Astar zkEVM is the first Validium connected to Polygon's Aggregation Layer (AggLayer), which provides shared consensus, data availability, and liquidity across supported Layer 2 networks.

Yes, assets can be bridged or migrated from other chains to Astar zkEVM. ETH can be natively transferred in both directions from Ethereum to the zkEVM using a trustless bridge, and ASTR and other tokens can be bridged over via the LayerZero protocol or other supported bridges.

Astar's dApp Staking allows developers to stake ASTR tokens to support their dApps, which in turn increases the dApp's visibility and rewards the developers with a portion of the block reward. This mechanism incentivizes developers to create high-quality dApps and contributes to the growth of the Astar ecosystem.

Soneium is a joint venture between Sony Group and Startale Group, and it marks a monumental step for Astar in realizing mass adoption. Astar will be fully connected to Soneium through industry-leading interop solutions, and ASTR will play a central role in Soneium as an ecosystem token for major consumer applications and payment solutions.

The ASTR token serves multiple essential functions, including staking token for dApp Staking, governance token of Astar, gas token on Astar Network, and representative asset on Soneium. ASTR holders will benefit directly from the growth and success of Soneium and the broader Astar ecosystem.

Astar Governance v1 is a decentralized governance system that empowers the community and ASTR token holders to shape the future of Astar. The system features three main councils: the Main Council, the Technical Committee, and the Community Council, which support and execute community-driven decisions.

You can participate in Astar's governance by submitting proposals, endorsing and voting on key initiatives, and requesting treasury funding for impactful projects. You can also contribute to the ecosystem growth by staking ASTR tokens, building dApps on the platform, and engaging with the Astar community.