Case Study: How Astar Network Scaled U.S. Hiring and Token Pay with Toku

Astar Network partnered with Toku to expand into the United States, enabling compliant hiring, token, stablecoin, and fiat payroll. The company now saves more than 30 hours per month in operational admin and runs payroll with complete compliance and confidence.

The Challenge

Compliance, Token Payments, and U.S. Hiring Complexity

Astar is one of the most flexible and interoperable smart contract platforms in the Polkadot ecosystem. It connects to Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Cosmos, Polygon, and other major networks. After launching its token in 2022, Astar wanted to build a larger presence in the United States, where access to experienced talent would help accelerate growth.

The company quickly discovered how difficult it is to hire and pay U.S. employees from abroad. American workers expect full-time employment, access to healthcare, and tax withholding that meets both federal and state requirements.

Astar also needed a way to compensate employees using its native token ($ASTR) along with stablecoins and fiat. This mix created compliance and reporting challenges that traditional EORs and payroll providers could not handle.

To grow successfully in the U.S., Astar needed a partner that could manage payroll in multiple currencies, handle sell-to-cover tax conversion, and meet all local employment and tax obligations.

The Approach

Toku as the Compliance and Token Payroll Backbone

Astar selected Toku to manage U.S. employment, payroll, and compliance for its expansion. Toku’s infrastructure allowed the company to hire full-time employees, pay in a mix of tokens, stablecoins, and fiat, and stay compliant across every state.

1. End-to-End Employment Compliance

Toku handled all U.S. employment registration, including:

• Registering new hires with federal and state agencies
• Drafting and executing compliant employment contracts
• Managing onboarding, HR administration, and benefits enrollment

This ensured that Astar employees were legally employed and covered under state and federal law.

2. Multi-Currency Payroll with Token Integration

Toku’s system supports payments in $ASTR, stablecoins, and fiat. Payroll runs automatically with built-in sell-to-cover logic that converts enough tokens to fiat to satisfy tax and benefit withholdings.

All calculations for income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are completed accurately, regardless of payment mix. Astar’s employees receive detailed payslips, while finance teams have full visibility into withholdings and conversions.

3. Benefits and Market-Standard Employment Packages

Toku ensured Astar’s U.S. hires had access to healthcare, retirement, and other statutory benefits. This made Astar competitive in attracting and retaining top U.S. talent.

4. Reduced Administrative Overhead

By moving to Toku’s compliant system, Astar reduced operational admin by more than 30 hours per month. The finance team remained lean while payroll accuracy and compliance improved.

The Results

Compliant U.S. Hiring and Token Payroll with Measurable Efficiency

Toku helped Astar transform its U.S. hiring and payroll from a compliance challenge into an operational advantage. The company now pays employees in tokens, stablecoins, and fiat within a single compliant system. Payroll runs automatically, taxes are withheld correctly, and benefits meet local expectations.

With over 30 hours of admin time saved each month, the finance team can focus on growth instead of paperwork. Toku’s infrastructure has given Astar a scalable model for future expansion into additional markets while keeping every jurisdiction compliant.

Key Takeaways

1. Token payroll must be compliant.

Paying in tokens or stablecoins requires the same precision in tax, reporting, and audit as fiat.

2. Sell-to-cover is critical.

Converting part of token compensation into fiat for tax withholding keeps payroll lawful and traceable.

3. Local employment is essential for U.S. expansion.

To attract top talent, companies need to provide full employment contracts, benefits, and protections.

4. Automation creates time savings.

Reducing manual admin allows finance teams to scale faster and focus on growth.

5. Compliance frameworks scale globally.

Astar’s U.S. expansion now serves as a playbook for entering new markets with confidence.

The Outcome

With Toku, Astar built a compliant and scalable foundation for U.S. operations. The company can hire full-time employees, run token and fiat payroll, and provide benefits that meet local standards. Administrative hours have been cut dramatically, compliance is automated, and payroll runs seamlessly across currencies.

Astar’s experience shows how token-native companies can expand globally without sacrificing legal integrity or employee experience.

Toku helps token-native organizations expand internationally with compliant, automated payroll across fiat and stablecoins.

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