Astar Network Agile Coretime Transition Referendum - Vote Opens

The referendum, launched on July 17, 2025, proposes establishing an HRMP (Horizontal Relay-routed Message Passing) channel between Astar Network and the Coretime system chain . This is the first of two votes needed to adopt Agile Coretime, a flexible blockspace allocation system from Polkadot. The goal? Lower execution costs, on-demand core usage, and improved scalability as Astar’s current parachain lease expires in August 2025 . A successful vote unlocks seamless XCM (Cross-Consensus Messaging) integration, ensuring no downtime during the transition. This move aligns with Polkadot’s vision of optimizing resources across its ecosystem, potentially setting a precedent for other parachains .

Recent News

Astar has been busy! In the past three months, the project expanded its Astar Collective initiative, bridging Astar and Soneium ecosystems for enhanced interoperability . Additionally, Astar announced a $30,000 grant pool to boost dApp development, signaling strong community support . These milestones highlight Astar’s focus on growth, making this referendum a natural next step in its evolution.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Astar aims to complete its Agile Coretime migration by August 2025, followed by a second referendum to finalize the shift . The roadmap includes deeper integration with Polkadot’s Coretime Chain marketplace, where excess blockspace can be traded, and expanded dApp staking rewards for ASTR holders . This positions Astar as a scalable Layer-1 solution, with plans to attract more enterprise and gaming projects to its ecosystem.

Onchain Data

Specific onchain metrics for this referendum (e.g., voting turnout or ASTR staking) are not yet fully available as of July 18, 2025, given the vote’s early stage. However, Astar’s total staked ASTR has historically hovered around 50-60% of its circulating supply, per Polkadot.js analytics .We’ll update with real-time data as voting progresses!

Community Sentiment

X reactions are mixed. Supporters like @GabrielLew12512 praise the scalability potential, calling it “ecosystem evolution in action”. However, @hanjunh86091352 expressed frustration, citing Astar’s recent market underperformance . Influencers remain cautiously optimistic, noting the technical upgrade’s long-term benefits despite short-term volatility risks.

Additional Insights

This transition pits Astar against competitors like Kusama, which also explores flexible coretime models. Market trends suggest increased interest in Polkadot’s ecosystem, with ASTR’s price showing resilience amid broader crypto fluctuations . For users, expect lower gas fees and more dApp opportunities, though early adopters should monitor vote outcomes for stability.

Risk Disclaimer: As with any blockchain upgrade, volatility or technical hiccups could occur. Always DYOR and assess your risk tolerance.