Astar (ASTR) Price Rally Expected in Late 2025: Key Drivers and Valuation Prospects Amid DeFi Advancements

By the end of 2025, the cryptocurrency sector has seen a significant upswing in the price of (ASTR), a blockchain network that operates at the crossroads of decentralized finance (DeFi) and cross-chain technology. This upward movement in ASTR’s value, which occurred even as the wider DeFi market struggled, can be attributed to a blend of strategic alliances, technical enhancements, and a revamped tokenomics structure. To determine if this momentum is sustainable, it is essential to analyze the driving factors and consider Astar’s valuation prospects within the rapidly changing DeFi sector.

Strategic Alliances and Network Enhancements: Twin Engines of Growth

Astar’s progress in the final quarter of 2025 is largely fueled by major partnerships and improvements to its infrastructure. Collaborations with Animoca Brands and Sony Soneium have broadened its cross-chain reach and encouraged enterprise-level adoption. These partnerships feature projects such as Anime ID and Anime Art Fest, which utilize Japan’s anime heritage to connect Web2 and Web3 communities. By incorporating Sony Soneium’s Account, Identity, and Reputation SDK (AIR SDK), Astar has streamlined user onboarding and promoted Web3 integration, addressing a significant challenge in decentralized networks

.

On the technical front, the introduction of Astar 2.0 represented a major leap forward. The platform is now capable of handling 150,000 transactions per second (TPS) and has integrated Chainlink to enable cross-chain operations, greatly enhancing scalability. These improvements are reflected in the numbers: Astar’s total value locked (TVL) hit $2.38 million in Q3 2025, outperforming the overall DeFi sector, which experienced a $11.96 billion drop in TVL during the same timeframe

. This level of performance highlights Astar’s capacity to draw liquidity even in the face of broader economic challenges.

Adaptive Tokenomics: Fostering Sustainable Growth

Astar has refined its tokenomics to focus on enduring sustainability while motivating user participation. In 2023, the network shifted from a static inflation approach to a dynamic tokenomics system, where token emissions are adjusted in real time based on network activity, such as staking and ecosystem involvement

. This adjustment is designed to synchronize token distribution with actual usage, ensuring rewards are significant without leading to runaway inflation.

Further refinements were made in 2025. A governance-approved revision lowered the base staking reward from 25% to 10%, helping to stabilize both annual inflation and staking APRs. At the same time, the portion of emissions directed to AdjustableStakersPart was raised from 40% to 55%, providing more consistent returns for dApp stakers. As a result, the annual inflation rate dropped to 4.32% from the previous 4.86%, while also decreasing total

emissions per block . The system also features transaction fee burning to counteract inflation, a method increasingly adopted in DeFi for its deflationary benefits. By actively managing inflation, Astar offers a more reliable environment for both developers and users, strengthening confidence in its platform.

Valuation Outlook: A DeFi Pioneer Amid Market Fragmentation

Astar’s rise in value is grounded in its practical solutions to DeFi’s scalability and interoperability issues, rather than mere speculation. With its 150,000 TPS capability and cross-chain features, Astar stands as a strong alternative to congested networks like

, especially as DeFi platforms require greater throughput. Additionally, its collaborations with major players such as Sony and Animoca Brands reflect increasing institutional interest, which is vital for maintaining upward price trends.

From a tokenomics angle, Astar’s lower inflation and emission modifications are in line with the industry’s shift toward sustainable token models. Investors are showing a preference for projects that exhibit prudent financial management, and Astar’s governance-led tokenomics strategy appeals to this mindset. The platform’s TVL growth, even as the DeFi market contracts, further demonstrates its attractiveness as a liquidity hub in a divided ecosystem.

Conclusion: Astar’s Role in the DeFi Innovation Landscape

The late 2025 rally in Astar’s price highlights its emergence as a leader in DeFi innovation. Through a blend of cross-chain collaborations, scalability improvements, and an adaptive tokenomics system, Astar has established a strong value case. While the broader DeFi space faces significant challenges, Astar’s emphasis on enterprise integration, user experience, and sustainable expansion positions it to gain further traction. For investors, the main consideration is whether these positive drivers can be maintained as competition grows. Nevertheless, with its current momentum and institutional support, Astar seems well-prepared to meet future challenges.