- Astar network has launched its zkEVM powered by Polygon CDK.
- Developers claim that Astar zkEVM is the first to launch fully integrated with Polygon’s AggLayer.
- The launch marks a significant milestone in Polygon’s multi-chain roadmap.
In recent weeks, the Polygon (MATIC) project has moved to align under a single narrative of aggregated blockchains in line with its 2.0 roadmap that will see the project become a network of zero-knowledge Ethereum Layer 2 chains.
At the center of the new narrative is the AggLayer, which promises to connect Layer 2 chains within the Polygon network such that interaction within the ecosystem feels like users are experiencing a single chain.
Following the launch of the AggLayer on February 23, the first chain to leverage the interoperability protocol has now gone live.
Astar zkEVM Goes Live with Polygon (MATIC) AggLayer Integration
Popular Layer 1 EVM chain Astar Network has announced the launch of Astar zkEVM, an Ethereum Layer 2 chain powered by the Polygon CDK, tipping it as the first blockchain to leverage the recently released AggLayer, per a press release shared with DailyCoin.
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With the AggLayer integration, Astar zkEVM users would be able to conduct cross-chain transactions with the Polygon zkEVM and other chains gearing up to leverage the protocol and share in the $55 billion liquidity across the Polygon and Ethereum ecosystem, the team asserted.
They further contended that even though the AggLayer is still in its first phase, users can experience the network like a single blockchain. Commenting on the development, Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal asserted that Astar’s launch marked an important milestone in Polygon’s broader multi-chain goal.
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"Today is an important first step to welcome communities to a seamless multi-chain ecosystem. With Astar and numerous other ZK-powered chains onboarding soon, Polygon CDK and AggLayer are poised to bring internet-scale capabilities to the world of crypto."
Along with the mainnet launch, Astar is hosting a promotional campaign dubbed Yoki Origins that takes users on a “journey to discover one-of-kind characters inspired by supernatural creatures from Japan” while interacting with talented artists, leading innovators, and builders.
Astar notes several institutions and projects are planning launches on the new Layer 2. These firms include Deloitte, building an NFT game for the Japanese Government Sports Agency; Hakuhodo and Japanese Airlines, building a tokenization project called KOKYO NFT; and PACKS, a Pokemon trading card tokenization platform.
Can Polygon (MATIC) Reclaim the Limelight With a Narrowed Focus?
In recent years, rollups like Arbitrum and Optimism have driven the excitement in the scaling ecosystem, seemingly taking the shine away from Polygon.
In January 2024, Polygon’s Sandeep Nailwal contended that part of the problem was that the project struggled to highlight developers’ work.
"From our side the problem is Polygon is doing so many things on so many fronts that its hard to highlight all the great things we are doing. I guess we need to zero-in on few things and just talk about that," he wrote.
To this end, Polygon Labs has shifted all its focus to building a network of aggregated chains, which it believes will form the basis of a new blockchain-based internet. In line with the narrowed focus, in February 2024, the firm cut 19% of its staff and revealed plans to spin out specific units, like its venture capital arm, as stand-alone firms.
On the Flipside
- Developers intend to release a second version of the AggLayer that will introduce near-instant and atomic transactions later this year.
- Polygon faces stiff competition from Arbitrum and Optimism, which are also eying multi-chain futures.
Why This Matters
The AggLayer promises to revolutionize how blockchains interact. The Astar zkEVM launch marks a significant first step in Polygon’s multi-chain future.
Read this for more on Polygon’s AggLayer:
Polygon (MATIC) Sets Date To Hit Major Goal in 2.0 Vision
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