ASTRALS
ASTRALS is an innovative project created by the esteemed artist Damien Guimoneau, offering a collection of 10,000 unique 3D avatars built from a diverse range of traits and races, each with its own rich lore. The project encompasses a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) for fostering groundbreaking initiatives and a story-driven, play-to-earn role-playing game. ASTRALS is positioned at the intersection of art, technology, and community engagement.
Nevada
Headquater
Product Manager
Position
Web3/Gaming
Industry
Oct 2020 - May 2021
Timeline
Project Overview
My Role and Responsibilities
As a Product Manager, I played a pivotal role in overseeing various facets of the ASTRALS project, including the development of the ASTRALS staking website (both desktop and mobile versions), Astrals DAO, and the Astrals Astrapon website (accessible on desktop and mobile platforms). My responsibilities encompassed understanding new technologies on the Solana blockchain, designing and developing one of the few staking systems available at the time, as well as managing the DAO and the game-like Astrapon.
Project Goals and Final Outcomes
The primary objective was to swiftly grasp the new technologies related to the Solana blockchain within a limited timeframe, leading to the successful design and development of the staking system, DAO, and Astrapon. The project received positive acclaim from the community and garnered favorable reviews on YouTube, Twitter.
Background and Market Research
ASTRALS was conceived to leverage the burgeoning NFT and Metaverse landscapes, creating a unique space for art enthusiasts and gamers alike. The initial goal was to fuse artistic brilliance with blockchain innovation, fostering a vibrant community around our unique 3D avatars.
Target Audience and Their Needs:
The primary audience for ASTRALS encompasses art collectors, gamers, and blockchain enthusiasts. They seek a unique, secure, and engaging platform to collect, showcase, and monetize digital art, alongside a desire for innovative gaming experiences within the Metaverse.
Market Research and Competitive Analysis:
The NFT market experienced unprecedented growth in 2021, surpassing $40 billion in value. Platforms like OpenSea witness daily traffic of over one million individuals, highlighting the nascent yet rapidly expanding nature of this market. In parallel, the Metaverse has garnered significant attention and investment, with a market cap of $34.7 billion as of January 6, 2022. Major players such as Epic Games, Meta, and Microsoft have invested billions into the Metaverse, projecting a compound annual growth rate of 41.7% from 2021 to 2030. Furthermore, the integration of augmented and virtual reality technologies is on the rise globally, with China leading the expenditure in this domain. ASTRALS positions itself to be at the vanguard of this industry transformation, offering innovative NFT utilities and fostering a seamless integration between the digital and physical realms. The emergence of NFTfi, a confluence of decentralized finance and NFTs, adds another layer of intrigue and potential to the project, as it seeks to provide passive income opportunities and economic incentives through token distribution, staking, and other mechanisms. ASTRALS is set to navigate and capitalize on these trends, providing a robust, engaging, and lucrative experience for its community.
Staking
Astrals Staking represents a pivotal innovation in the realm of decentralized finance, providing users with a seamless and user-friendly platform to engage in staking activities. By simply connecting their wallet, users can effortlessly enter all of their NFTs into staking mode, enabling a hassle-free experience unlike any other in the market.
Frontend
Framework: React.js, Next.js
State Management: Redux
Styling: Styled Components
Wallet Connection: @solana/wallet-adapter
Interactions: solana-web3.js
Backend
Server: Node.js, Express
Database: MongoDB
API: RESTful API
Blockchain
Smart Contracts: Rust
Framework: Anchor
Wallet: Phantom, Sollet, Solflare
Staking
The platform offers a comprehensive view of potential earnings, allowing users to easily track their staking rewards, withdraw their earnings, and view their withdrawal history at their convenience. This level of transparency and ease of use sets Astrals Staking apart from its competitors, where the norm is to tediously send NFTs one by one to a central account to initiate the staking process.
Our approach in simplifying the user journey, combined with our technological breakthroughs, has resulted in overwhelming user satisfaction and market recognition. As a Product Manager for Astrals Staking, I played a crucial role in streamlining the user experience and ensuring that our platform not only met but exceeded user expectations. The positive reception of Astrals Staking in the market is a testament to our commitment to innovation, user empowerment, and the continuous pursuit of excellence in the decentralized finance space.
DAO
In the innovative landscape of the Astrals ecosystem, the Astrals Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) stands out as a paradigm of community-driven governance. With a structure that empowers $GLXY token holders, the DAO facilitates a democratic approach to proposal submission and voting, ensuring that every voice is heard and has the potential to shape the future of Astrals.
Frontend:
Framework: React.js, Next.js
State Management: Redux
Styling: Styled Components
Wallet Connection: @solana/wallet-adapter
Blockchain:
Smart Contracts: Rust
Framework: Anchor
DAO Framework: Mango DAO
DAO
At the heart of our DAO, holders of $GLXY tokens are not just participants; they are decision-makers. They have the privilege to submit proposals and engage in critical votes, influencing the direction of the project. However, what sets Astrals DAO apart is its permissioned relative majority structure, a unique blend of decentralized and representative governance. Elected leaders, trusted figures within the community, play a vital role in endorsing proposals, moving them to the voting stage, and overcoming the common challenges faced by DAOs, including accountability and responsibility in decision-making.
Reputation scores emerge as a significant factor in this governance model, determining the influence and standing of individuals in elections and decision-making processes. This ensures a balanced and meritocratic system, where contributions and engagement are recognized and rewarded.
Once a proposal receives the endorsement of an elected leader, it proceeds to the voting stage, where a relative majority vote determines its fate. With a straightforward and transparent voting mechanism, where 1 $GLXY equals 1 vote, every token holder has a direct stake in the outcome. Inspired by successful implementations in DAOs like MetaCartel Ventures, Raid Guild, and DAOhaus, we are confident in the efficacy of our governance model.
Moreover, Astrals DAO introduces an innovative early voting mechanic, allowing for swift decision-making when needed. Proposals can be instantly approved if they secure votes representing 60% of the total circulating supply of $GLXY, ensuring agility and responsiveness in the fast-paced world of decentralized finance.
As a Product Manager at Astrals, I have been at the forefront of designing and implementing these governance mechanisms, ensuring that they are not just robust and transparent, but also user-friendly and inclusive. Our commitment to decentralization and community empowerment is reflected in every aspect of the Astrals DAO, paving the way for a future where the community truly shapes the project’s destiny.
Astrapon
Embarking on an innovative journey within the Solana ecosystem, ASTRALS is proud to introduce "Astrapon," a captivating Web3 capsule toy machine that transforms the way we interact with NFTs. This unique platform brings together a plethora of your favorite NFT collections, including the enigmatic Boryoku Dragonz, the vibrant Communi3, the quirky Mekka Froggo, our very own ASTRALS, and many more, creating a treasure trove of digital collectibles waiting to be discovered.
Frontend:
Framework: React.js, Next.js
State Management: Redux or Context API
Styling: Styled Components or SASS
Wallet Connection: @solana/wallet-adapter
Animation: CSS animations or JavaScript animation libraries like Framer Motion
Blockchain:
Smart Contracts: Rust or C
Framework: Anchor
Astrapon
Engage and Enjoy
Embark on a thrilling adventure with Astrapon, where connecting your Solana wallet is a breeze, leading you straight into a world of exciting NFT treasures. Our homepage is crafted for ease of use, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience right from the start. Transparent payments and clear fee structures guarantee a hassle-free transition into the heart of the action.
Dive into the gameplay with confidence, as Astrapon provides a responsive and visually stunning interface, ensuring every moment is filled with enjoyment. From the initial connection to the final play, every step is designed with the user in mind, promising an unparalleled blockchain gaming experience.
Astrapon
Elevate Your Astrapon Experience with Reroll
Indulge in endless excitement as Astrapon introduces the Reroll feature, offering you a second chance at greatness with just a click! After your initial adventure, dive back into the fun by utilizing a variety of tokens to unlock new possibilities and seek out the treasures you desire. Whether you're aiming for a rare collectible or just want another shot at the game, Reroll is here to enhance your Astrapon journey and keep the thrill alive.
Astrapon
Astral Toys, Exclusive Prizes, and Real-World Value
In a strategic move to enhance the gaming experience and reward participation, we've ingeniously incorporated a new collection of Astral Toys. These toys not only earn a share of the $GLXY tokens spent on rerolling the Astrapon but are also poised to become interactive companions in the upcoming Astraland metaverse, adding layers of engagement and utility.
Participants in the first Astrapon can anticipate an array of enticing prizes, from the coveted Mutant Ape Yacht Club NFT to a Signed Shaq Shoe NFT, the latter of which can be exchanged for an authentic, tangible pair of shoes. These prized possessions add an element of real-world value and excitement, elevating the Astrapon experience to new heights.
Navigating the Blockchain Frontier
As the product manager of ASTRALS, I believe we have successfully navigated the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of blockchain and NFTs, delivering a unique and engaging experience to our users. We have managed to merge art, gaming, and decentralized governance in a way that not only appeals to blockchain enthusiasts but also attracts new users to the ecosystem.
Our collaboration with renowned artists and the introduction of a vast array of 3D avatars have set us apart in the market, providing a rich and immersive experience. The implementation of the ASTRALS staking system, DAO, and the Astrapon gachapon website on the Solana blockchain ensured high-performance and low transaction costs, enhancing user experience.
The learnings from ASTRALS are invaluable and can be applied to future projects in several ways:
Agile and Adaptive Approach: The ability to adapt to changes quickly is a key takeaway from this project. In future projects, maintaining an agile approach and being open to pivoting when necessary will be crucial.
User-Centric Design: The importance of a user-centric approach in design and development has been reinforced. Future projects will benefit from a strong focus on UX/UI, ensuring that even the most complex technologies are accessible and enjoyable for the end user.
Community Building: The role of a strong, engaged community has been evident in the success of ASTRALS. In future projects, investing time and resources in building and nurturing a community will be a top priority.
Sustainability and Responsibility: As a product manager, the responsibility of ensuring sustainable and ethical practices in blockchain use has become clear. Future projects will be approached with a heightened awareness of these issues, ensuring that we are contributing positively to the wider ecosystem.