The connection between Astar Network and Soneium, Source: Astar Network
I received an alert from Astar Network regarding ACS (Astar Contribution Score) point allocation. I had forgotten about this network and coin for a long time.
Astar was a coin and chain born during the hot Polkadot parachain competition trend. Anyone who wanted to get Astar coins was required to stake DOT coins for future Astar coin allocation. As far as I know, most of the staking participants didn't know what Astar was or how much growth potential it had. They just wanted to throw themselves into the hot parachain trend, fearing they would miss out.
Astar doesn't have any distinctive performance or decentralization advantages compared to Solana, Sui, or even EVM L2. One point that Astar utilizes for future growth is that it was developed by a Japanese founder, so it could approach Japanese companies easily. With this advantage, it seems to have a close relationship with Sony and launched Sony's blockchain, Soneium.
Astar Network vs. Soneium Network
| Feature | Astar Network | Soneium Network |
|---|---|---|
| Main Focus | Multi-chain smart contracts (EVM, WASM, zkEVM) | Gaming, entertainment, and NFTs |
| Blockchain Type | General-purpose multi-chain network | Application-specific blockchain for gaming |
| Technology | Supports EVM, WASM, zkEVM | Optimized for high-performance gaming transactions |
| Target Users | Web3 developers, DeFi, enterprises | Game developers, NFT projects, metaverse apps |
| Interoperability | Bridges to Ethereum, Polkadot, and others | Connected to Astar and external game networks |
Soneium is well-known as Sony Chain. In other words, it is clearly a centralized chain controlled by Sony, just maximizing Sony's profit and business. At some point, Sony may try to utilize Soneium as an entrance to the web3 gaming industry.
However, I think it is a very old-style problem solution to copy the market leader Ethereum chain, be under its umbrella, and pursue its own world and benefit. If Ethereum fails to improve enough compared to Solana and other strong L1 chains, Soneium and Astar may lose their foundation.