Astar Equipped for Dual Web3 Environment Support – EVM and Wasm
Astar is one of Polkadot’s most prominent parachains, equipping developers to build dApps compatible with both WASM and EVM environments.
This means smart contracts can be written in multiple languages:
• ink!, Rust, Golang, or any language that compiles to WebAssembly for execution in Astar’s Wasm environment.
• Solidity, Vyper, or other languages that compile to Ethereum bytecode for execution in Astar’s EVM environment.
A special feature of Astar is that all its multichain ecosystem dApps are interoperable with each other!
That’s right—Astar’s Substrate dApps can communicate with Astar’s EVM dApps for token transfers and other cross-chain functionalities across virtual machines. More on this is covered in the subsequent sections.
Astar’s Infrastructure Powering Its Dual-Blockchain Framework
Graphic taken from Astar Portal
Dual Virtual Machine Support
Since Astar supports two Web3 environments, its infrastructure connects to two virtual machines:
• WASM Virtual Machine for Polkadot-compatible dApps
• EVM Virtual Machine for Ethereum-compatible dApps
Astar’s RPC Infrastructure
Astar has RPC endpoint infrastructure to support blockchain functionalities in both its Wasm and EVM environments.
These RPC connections enable processing of remote procedure calls to fetch blockchain data and interact with smart contracts via endpoints maintained by network nodes.
Compatible Address Formats Supported by Astar
Astar supports two address formats — one in Substrate format (SS58) and another in Ethereum-style format (H160).
These addresses are linked through a mapping mechanism that stores the user’s Ethereum address in a slot within a Substrate pallet.
This way, a user’s Substrate account is linked to their EVM account in Astar, allowing Substrate wallets and interfaces to display information about EVM account holdings.This feature equips Astar with robust asset management, account unification, and cross-environment tracking.
Astar Users Equipped to Operate Dual-Blockchain Web3 dApps
Astar users can operate ecosystem dApps from both the EVM and Wasm frameworks using a single wallet such as Talisman, Subwallet, or Onekey.
Alternatively, they can interact with EVM dApps using Metamask and Polkadot dApps using Polkadot.js, the traditional way!
** Building dApps Using Astar
Developers can build dApps compatible with either environment using their respective pallets.
For Wasm-Compatible Blockchains
Substrate Wasm-compatible blockchains are built using Substrate pallets with Substrate’s FRAME (Framework for Runtime Aggregation of Modularized Entities) — enabling the creation of modular blockchains.
Substrate’s modular design includes pre-built pallet components with customizable business logic for staking, governance, balances, and other core blockchain functions that execute at Substrate runtime.
For runtime execution and smart contract functionality, Contracts Pallets are leveraged.
Smart contracts are deployed here, with Substrate runtime execution processes happening here!
For EVM-Compatible Blockchains
Astar’s EVM Pallets are used to build EVM-compatible blockchains.
EVM Pallets are coded in Rust to execute at Substrate runtime.
These pallets allow deployment of EVM smart contracts whose Ethereum bytecode is converted into a format executable by the Substrate runtime.
This means that consensus, execution, and storage all take place within the Substrate blockchain.
Complete Interoperability Framework for Astar dApps Enabled by XVM
Cross-Virtual Chain Interoperability Through the XVM System
Polkadot-compatible dApps are interoperable within the Polkadot ecosystem via XCM (Cross-Consensus Messaging).
Thus, Astar’s Wasm-based dApps are interoperable with each other by default.
But Astar goes a step further—its EVM-based dApps are also interoperable with its Wasm-based dApps, thanks to XVM (Cross-Virtual Machine Messaging).
When cross-virtual machine transfers are initiated by an EVM smart contract, the request is parsed by a precompile (a special system smart contract) into a syntax that the XVM pallet can process.
The XVM pallet then creates an XCM message for the destination parachain to execute.
This design ensures that all dApps within Astar are interoperable with each other.
Conclusion
Astar stands out from traditional blockchains with its ability to support both Wasm and EVM Web3 environments.
Its architecture empowers full interoperability across multichain dApps and enables users and builders to experience a unified, flexible blockchain platform.
From siloed chains of the Ethereum era to today’s modular, cross-environment blockchains, Astar is leading the evolution.
Explore Astar and discover the power of a next-generation Web3 network built for true multichain interoperability.