Emre Yumlu 
Web3 innovation continues to accelerate, and Astar Network has announced a strategic investment from Asia-based digital property rights leader Animoca Brands. This partnership aims to scale Soneium, a Layer-2 blockchain backed by Sony, while also bringing popular entertainment IPs from Japan and Asia onto the blockchain.
Astar and Animoca Brands Join Forces
As one of the leading parachains within the Polkadot ecosystem, Astar Network has positioned itself at the forefront of onchain development. Through this new investment, Animoca Brands plans to expand its global Web3 entertainment vision in collaboration with Astar. Animoca co-founder Yat Siu described the investment as a strategic move aligned with the company’s mission to support the open metaverse and digital ownership rights.
Soneium: A New Chapter in the Web2 to Web3 Transition
Soneium, the Ethereum Layer-2 solution developed by Sony’s blockchain division, will play a central role in driving Web3 adoption. This partnership will introduce entertainment-focused campaigns and integrations designed to onboard users. A key initiative is Anime ID, a digital identity and reputation system powered by Moca Network in collaboration with San FranTokyo.
Bringing Japanese and Asian IP Onchain
The collaboration is expected to pave the way for iconic Asian entertainment properties to enter the Web3 space. Events like Anime Art Fest will provide opportunities for creators, artists, and developers to explore new possibilities in decentralized content creation.
Astar Network founder Sota Watanabe called the investment a strong vote of confidence in the long-term potential of blockchain and digital assets.
The Role of ASTR in the Astar Ecosystem
At the heart of the Astar ecosystem lies its native token, ASTR, which powers liquidity, incentivizes innovation, and fuels user engagement across projects including Soneium. By supporting incentivized DApps, ASTR helps attract new users and developers into the ecosystem.
Animoca Brands Eyes Public Listing in the U.S.
Beyond this strategic investment, Animoca Brands is preparing for a public listing in the United States. According to Yat Siu, this move is not just financial—it signals that crypto-native companies can deliver real, innovative business models beyond the norm. He also noted that evolving regulatory perspectives in the U.S. could help accelerate this initiative.
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