The Japan Blockchain Association’s 4th annual Blockchain Award presented the Product of the Year award to Astar Network, the multichain smart contract platform. At the same event, Sota Watanabe, the founder, and CEO of Astar Network, received Person of the Year for a second straight year.
In a survey conducted by the Japan Blockchain Association (JBA), Astar Network and Sota Watanabe both came out as the favorites of the Japanese Web3 community. With 171 members, including bitFlyer, Coincheck, Microsoft, GMO, EY, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Toyota, and ConsenSys, the JBA is the biggest blockchain association in Japan.
Sota Watanabe, the founder and CEO of Astar Network, said, “We are delighted to have been recognized by the Japanese Web3 community. As Japan’s leading blockchain project, we remain committed to accelerating Web3 innovation through Astar. In 2023 and beyond, we will leverage our presence in Japan to unlock opportunities for entrepreneurs, developers, and users alike.”
Astar Network is the leading Layer-1 chain in Japan. It allows developers to create interoperable dApps as a parachain of Polkadot. It enables cross-consensus messaging (XCM) and cross-virtual machine messaging (XVM) for both EVM and WASM smart contracts.
Sota Watanabe is assisting the Japanese government as it moves ahead by integrating Web3 into its overall plan. Additionally, Sota was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Japan and Asia. He is featured on the cover of the most recent issue of Forbes Japan and has been named one of Japan’s top entrepreneurs.
For developers and businesses interested in researching the Japanese Web3 market, Astar Network is the go-to blockchain. Despite Japan’s rigorous listing requirements, it is also the first public blockchain from the nation to be listed there. The Japanese government has recognized Astar’s native token, ASTR, as a cryptocurrency, not a security.
