Polygon AggLayer witnesses the launch of Astar zxEVM by Astar Network.

Astar Network, a Japanese blockchain company, made history on March 5 by introducing Astar zxEVM, the first layer-2 chain to integrate with Polygon’s AggLayer. Astar zkEVM is a zero-knowledge layer-2 chain created to facilitate cross-chain transactions between the Astar and Polygon blockchains. This integration is made possible by AggLayer, a protocol that supports multichain smart contracts through aggregate zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs), effectively making the chains appear as a single network for end-users. The blog post from Polygon Labs explains that AggLayer ensures consistent cryptographic security and atomic composability across multiple chains without compromising their autonomy, guaranteeing the immutability of transactions throughout the entire cross-chain process. A press release shared with Cointelegraph reveals that Sota Watanabe, the founder of Astar Network, stated that this move aligns with Japan’s national tech strategy. AggLayer was introduced just over a month ago with the aim of simplifying interactions for users across different chains. Polygon Labs likened the experience to that of the internet, where users can seamlessly connect and interact across platforms without manually handling assets. Instead, AggLayer handles the connection and conversion process in the background, similar to how users click on links on the Web2. Sandeep Nailwal, the co-founder of Polygon, emphasized the significance of the AggLayer era in a statement, marking it as a significant milestone.