Astar Network, a smart contracts platform on Polkadot, is preparing to upgrade its Shiden network after completing Async Backing. However, the SDN price has dropped by 80% since its highs in 2024. The Async Backing upgrade for Shiden Network is now complete, reducing block times from 12s to 6s and making the network more scalable.
The upgrade also requires node operators to update to the latest version, v5.44. The team purchased Agile Coretime to transition from the Parachain auction slot model to the more efficient Agile Coretime system. Astar and Shiden complement each other, both supporting smart contracts on Polkadot and Kusama.
Astar is a parachain on Polkadot, while Shiden is a parachain on Kusama. Developers can test dApps on Shiden before launching them on Astar, where there is no room for errors. The new model with Agile Coretime is advantageous, as parachains won’t have to lock up or “bond” large amounts of KSM or DOT.
Instead, they can buy computing resources on a need-basis without tying up huge capital upfront. The question is whether SDN prices will follow the Shiden migration. The token is currently down 80% from its 2024 highs and risks plunging even more if bulls fail to intervene. If buyers push on, breaching $0.13, SDN prices could rally, even reaching $0.20 by the end of the year.
