Polygon AggLayer witnesses the launch of Astar zxEVM by Astar Network

Astar Network, a Japanese blockchain company, made a groundbreaking move on March 5 by launching Astar zxEVM, the first layer-2 chain to integrate with Polygon’s AggLayer. Astar zkEVM is specifically designed to enable cross-chain transactions between the Astar and Polygon blockchains. This integration is made possible through AggLayer, a protocol that supports multi-chain smart contracts by utilizing aggregate zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs). As a result, the two chains appear to function as a single network for end-users. Polygon Labs stated in a blog post that AggLayer ensures uniform cryptographic security and atomic composability across aggregated chains, without compromising their independence. This means that transactions remain unchangeable throughout the entire process of crossing chains. A press release from Astar Network revealed that this move aligns with Japan’s national tech strategy. AggLayer was announced just over a month ago to simplify the user experience across different chains. Polygon Labs compared the result to the seamless experience of the internet, where users can effortlessly navigate between websites without worrying about the technical aspects happening behind the scenes. Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, emphasized the significance of the AggLayer era as an important milestone.