Astar Evolution: A 2-Phase Strategy with Startale

The Astar Network and Startale are merging, marking the kickoff of a larger, 2-phase strategy known as Astar Evolution. This strategic move is a pivotal moment for both companies, aimed at leveraging combined strengths for greater innovation and growth. Here’s a detailed look at how we reached this point, why this decision was necessary, and what we can expect for the future.

The Evolutionary Journey

This merger is driven by a need to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the web3 ecosystem. Astar Network, known for its robust technological foundation, and Startale, recognized for its established industry collaborations and blockchain-centric offerings, have both made significant strides independently. However, the increasing complexity of the market and the necessity for more integrated solutions highlight the need for a strategic consolidation - something we are more than ready to deliver on. In short, this convergence is a direct response to the increasing demand we are receiving for comprehensive, integrated blockchain solutions.

Factors for This Decision

The decision to merge was driven by several factors:

• Resource Optimization: Combining the resources of Astar Network and Startale allows us to eliminate redundancies, optimize operational efficiencies, and allocate our collective resources in a more strategic manner.
• Innovation Acceleration: By merging, we can accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies and web3 solutions. Startale has already made great strides with their RPC and API offerings in addition to establishing long-term partners for upcoming project deployments.
• Market Positioning: In a rapidly evolving market, a unified entity can better respond to changes, grow effectively, and seize new opportunities. This merger positions us as a stronger community in the web3 space, where enterprise interest and involvement are constantly growing.
• Transition for Growth: This shift is essential for continued growth and is driven by upcoming changes and project in that require a more agile and growth-oriented approach. This will also allow us to hire and expand the team with highly qualified individuals and open more hubs across the globe.

Core Aspects of the Evolution

Collaboration with Global Enterprises

Our collaboration with Sony Group is just the beginning. Startale has received significant backing from leading global enterprises like Samsung Next and UOB Venture Management. These partnerships are crucial in accelerating the development of our web3 products for the global ecosystem. With this additional support, we're empowered to expand our product offerings and attract top talent and projects, solidifying our position as a leading force in the global web3 community.

The evolution not only represents a significant step towards our strategically aligned vision but also promises substantial economies of scale. By consolidating operations, we can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and negotiate better deals with top tier projects, protocols and brands. This translates into more competitive and dependable services for our community, further driving adoption and growth.

Development and Growth Services

Since Astar's foundation in 2019, the core team has achieved numerous milestones, including the successful completion of Web3 Foundation grants, building a top parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem, and delivering a strong and scalable Layer 2 solution on Ethereum. The resume speaks for itself and has cemented Astar's reputation as a leader in the web3 space. With the upcoming merger, Astar's development and growth services will consolidate under the Startale umbrella, creating a powerhouse of innovation and expertise. This will allow the team to grow even stronger as they embrace the challenge of delivering high-quality blockchain technology for users and partners alike.

“We started Astar Network back in 2019. And we have been developing the protocol for more than 5 years now. Now, we will enter the next chapter in the coming months. This is going to be the largest update in our history. The integration of Astar Network’s development under Startale marks a pivotal moment in our journey. This merger not only aligns with our strategic vision but also enhances our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality web3 solutions to the masses. As we move forward, we are committed to building a seamless digital ecosystem where users can enjoy unparalleled benefits, control, and ownership over their online interactions." - Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale & Founder of Astar Network.

Foundation and Community

The Astar Foundation will remain a separate entity, a non-profit that will support Startale on various innovative fronts. You can expect continued growth of Astar branded products and services in several key areas:

• On-Chain Treasury Management: Overseeing the Astar Treasury proposals, Community Treasury, and the Unstoppable Community Grants Program.
• Governance Initiatives: Executing governance initiatives and community proposals.
• Astar Ecosystem Agents Program: Maintaining and enhancing the Ecosystems Agents Program to increase global brand awareness, product knowledge, and developer acquisition.
• Token Utility and Value: Enhancing the utility and value of the Astar native token, ensuring that it remains integral to the ecosystem. This includes strategic partnerships that may be brought in under Startale, ecosystem development, and justifying token usage across various platforms and services - in and outside of the ecosystem.
• Code of Conduct: Upholding the Astar Network code of conduct.

Through these efforts, the Astar Foundation will ensure that the Astar Network continues to thrive and innovate, maintaining its position at the forefront of the web3 space.

What This Means for You

The integration of Astar Network’s development under Startale is a game-changer. Here's why you should be excited:

• Community-Driven Growth: Our community remains at the heart of everything we do. This merger will unlock new opportunities, projects, and tools designed to enhance your experience and drive collective success. As part of the evolutionary phases, incentivized opportunities that involve helping manage the protocol will be announced and be directed to our passionate community members.
• Unified Effort and Benefits: We want to assure our community that this merger is designed to unify and strengthen our current and future efforts. While Startale serves as the umbrella organization, Astar remains central to our mission. All partnerships and collaborations aim to enhance Astar’s capabilities and reach.
• Maintaining Astar’s Identity: We understand the importance of brand recognition, especially one grown over 5 years. The Astar brand will continue to be prominently featured and associated with our major projects and innovations. This strategic alignment is intended to enhance, not dilute, the Astar identity.
• Transparency and Commitment: Transparency is one of our core values. We are dedicated to keeping our community well-informed and confident in our decisions. This integration aims to streamline operations and improve our ability to deliver top-tier web3 solutions, ultimately benefiting the Astar community.
• Revolutionary Innovations: Astar has always aimed to challenge the status-quo. With Startale, expect faster, more impactful innovations as our combined R&D efforts break new ground in web3 technology.
• Visionary Future: This is just the beginning. Our unified vision is set to transform the web3 landscape, with exciting milestones and transformative phases on the horizon.

"Astar Foundation will always be committed to innovation and excellence. The merger is a strategic move to amplify our impact in the global web3 landscape. By maintaining Astar’s core identity and enhancing our capabilities, we aim to deliver exceptional value to our community." - Maarten Hensken, Head of Astar Foundation

Lastly, stay on the lookout for more details about the upcoming phases of the evolution; the show's just getting started. We are beyond excited to share more information about how these changes will not just place us at the forefront of web3, but also aid in bringing this technology we are passionate about to billions of people. Together, with our community, we are well-positioned to navigate the future and achieve our ambitious goals.