Astar Network Governance Vote: dApp Staking Reactivation

The vote addresses a breach at Neemo Finance, a liquid staking partner, where an attacker unlocked 26.78 million ASTR (about $4.5 million at current prices) [Astar Forum, 07/06/2025]. The proposal, fast-tracked by Astar’s Main Council, aims to transfer these funds to the on-chain Treasury, change Neemo’s dApp ownership to the Treasury, and disable maintenance mode to resume staking. With a simple majority needed and immediate enactment planned, this move safeguards over $204 million in total unlocked ASTR across two tranches [Astar Forum, 07/06/2025]. The significance? It demonstrates Astar’s decentralized governance in action, protecting stakers while restoring a key revenue stream for dApps. Expect increased staking participation and potential ASTR price stability if successful.

Recent News

Astar has been on a roll. In May 2025, the network expanded its Superchain ecosystem with Soneium, enhancing cross-chain compatibility [astar.network, 05/15/2025]. The Neemo incident, reported on July 6, 2025, temporarily halted dApp Staking but showcased Astar’s swift response, coordinating with Neemo to secure funds [X Post, 1941905010947661834]. Community trust remains high, with the Astar Foundation emphasizing the network’s uncompromised security [Astar Forum, 07/06/2025].

Future Plans

Astar’s roadmap includes scaling dApp Staking v3 with improved reward tiers and integrating more DeFi protocols on Soneium by Q4 2025 [docs.astar.network, 06/2025]. A second vote for the remaining 177.5 million ASTR (Chunk 2) is slated for later this week, signaling ongoing governance evolution [Astar Forum, 07/06/2025]. These steps aim to solidify Astar’s position as a hub for Web3 innovation in Japan and beyond.

Onchain Data

Exact staking metrics post-maintenance are pending, but pre-incident data showed over 200 million ASTR locked in dApp Staking, with daily transaction volumes exceeding 10,000 [docs.astar.network, 06/2025]. Post-vote, expect a spike in staking activity as maintenance lifts. Current ASTR supply is 8.9 billion, with 7.98 million ASTR already voted, reflecting strong community engagement [Astar Forum, 07/06/2025].

Community Sentiment

X reactions are mixed but optimistic. Users like @onchaingodson praise Astar’s “proactive governance” [X Post, 1941920329925906729], while @Crypto_King_1st raised withdrawal concerns [X Post, 1941910639405842685]. Critics like @Kor_CoinRich called it a “scam” amid a 30.51% price drop [X Post, 1941802044156965118], though this reflects market volatility, not network failure. Influencers highlight Astar’s transparency as a bullish signal.

Additional Insights

Compared to competitors like Polkadot, Astar’s stake-weighted voting adds unique governance flair. With DeFi hacks costing $3.1 billion in 2023 [Chainalysis, 2023], this event underscores the need for robust security. Stakers could see resumed rewards, but monitor volatility risks.

Risk Disclaimer: Crypto investments carry volatility and security risks. Research thoroughly before participating.