Astar Network is Japan's leading smart contract platform, according to their whitepaper. It supports both Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and WebAssembly (Wasm) environments, allowing collaboration between different technologies and languages familiar to developers. Like every parachain part of the Polkadot ecosystem, Astar enjoys shared security with the Polkadot network while still being able to operate independently. It also introduces multi-chain smart contracts that combine the strengths of EVM and Wasm Virtual Machines.

‍Recognizing the need for developer incentives, Astar introduces a Build2Earn system that encourages developers to not only build but also maintain decentralized applications (DApps) by offering incentives. Also, users can earn rewards for supporting their favorite projects. 

‍Astar Network’s native token is the Astar token (ASTR). 

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Astar in Japan 

‍Astar’s role as a blockchain pioneer in Japan can clearly be seen through their many ventures such as: 

• Several partnerships with local entities there such as Sony, Toyota, KDDI, NTT Docomo, JU Kyushu Railway Company, Dentsu, Fujitsu, and Doublejump.tokyo 
• Partnering with prominent blockchains such as Polygon to “help foster unique and iconic use cases in Japan…strengthening Japan’s role as the epicenter of the Web3.0 movement”, according to Astar CEO Soto Watanabe.
• Breaching into Japan’s entertainment industry with Astar set to have a collaboration with legendary Japanese producer Yasushi Akimoto. They will produce YOAKE Entertainment which will utilize blockchain technology to "create global entertainment content and an idol economy". 
• Being awarded the “Product of the Year'' by the Japan Blockchain Association last 2022. 
• Continuing to increase its presence in Japan by working closely with regulators and onboarding traditional businesses to Web3.0 through Astar Japan Lab 

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‍Features

‍Astar offers its users several functionalities. Try them all here. Decide which to use by choosing them on the left part of your screen. 

‍Assets

‍The “Assets” page shows the total amount of assets you have on your connected wallet. Here you can view each specific asset you have, send and receive funds, import tokens, bridge your assets, and view more details about them on Blockscout.   

‍Dashboard

‍The Astar “Dashboard” gives you an overview about the state of the network. It contains metrics such as Total Value Locked (TVL), block time, token price, token supply and total holders, and collators. You can also check which networks are currently working and which are restricted. 

‍dAPP Staking

‍The “dAPP Staking” tab lets you browse various dApps under different categories such as DeFi, NFTs, Utility, and Tooling dApps. You can also stake your $ASTR here and claim your rewards. Furthermore, you can also view on-chain data such as Staking TVL, Transactions, and Unique Active Wallets. 

‍Bridge

‍Astar’s “Bridge” feature allows you to move your assets cross-chain. Choose between the Ethereum Bridge, Astar Bridge, and Celer Bridge to move to different blockchain accordingly. Once you choose a bridge, you can select the token to transfer, choose your source and destination chains, and then review the transaction details before bridging. 

‍Ecosystem

‍The “Ecosystem” section lets you discover various projects building on Astar, such as various DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and DAOs. They are sorted into different categories and you can click on them to go to their official links and learn more.   

‍Forum

‍Use the “Forum” to engage with the Astar Community. Discuss the future of the Astar Network, dApps, and various topics with other users and developers. These topics are categorized on the side of your screen. You can also seek help with network issues you may be experiencing and stay informed on the latest news.