$ASTER has pumped more than 1500% in a week and CZ and Mr Beast's involvement has just added fuel to fire. The rise of Aster explained.
Author: Sahil Thakur
If you haven’t been living under a rock in the crypto industry, you know Aster is here. And Aster has pumped 1900% on launch. It is what we call “The Talk Of The Town” and in this article we will go through every aspect we know so far. Here we have, Aster Explained.
Aster is a new kind of decentralized exchange (DEX). It supports both spot trading and perpetual futures for cryptocurrencies, and also stock-based derivatives. Everything happens directly on-chain. One of its key features is ultra-high leverage. On some contracts, traders can use up to 1001× leverage. It also works across multiple blockchain networks.
With Aster, users can trade crypto and stock price movements at any time. There are no intermediaries involved. It’s a non-custodial platform, so users keep control of their assets. Aster drew massive attention in September 2025 after launching its token. In just a few days, the price of $ASTER surged more than 1,500%. That moment helped Aster gain a strong foothold in the decentralized derivatives space.
The project began after a merger in late 2024. Two DeFi platforms – Astherus and ApolloX Finance, came together. One focused on yield generation, the other on perpetual futures. Aster combined both. It introduced a “Trade & Earn” model, which changed how users think about collateral.
Here’s how it works. When you deposit funds like staked BNB or stablecoins, those funds don’t just sit there. They continue to earn passive yield, even while being used as margin for your trades. This setup allows users to earn in more than one way. It also solves a common DeFi problem -idle collateral.
Aster goes a step further. It lets users trade perpetual contracts on stocks like Apple or Tesla, not just crypto. That means you can trade traditional equities, anytime, without a broker. In this way, Aster brings together elements from both traditional finance and DeFi.
Aster’s platform includes several innovative tools built for both casual and advanced traders. Here’s a breakdown of what it offers:
This mode lets users trade with up to 1001× leverage using just a single click. It’s designed for ease of use. It also protects smaller trades with MEV-resistant execution to reduce risks like front-running and sandwich attacks.
Pro Mode offers a full order book interface. Traders get access to advanced order types, hidden orders for large positions, grid automation, and multi-asset margining. It brings a centralized exchange experience, fully on-chain.
Users can post assets like asBNB or USDF as margin. These continue to earn passive yield while being used for trades. It’s a simple way to keep capital productive at all times.
Aster isn’t tied to one network. It began on BNB Chain and now supports Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, and more. This setup attracts liquidity and users from across ecosystems.
Traders can go beyond crypto. Aster also supports perpetual contracts on stock indices and major equities. These are available 24/7, offering a seamless way to speculate on both crypto and traditional markets.
The platform is optimized for high-frequency and large-volume trading. It reduces slippage and includes safeguards against MEV exploits. These protections help create a fairer trading environment, especially in Simple Mode.
Aster’s launch attracted over 300,000 users in just one day through airdrops and token swaps. Ongoing trading rewards continue to fuel user activity. There’s also talk of Aster building its own Layer-1 network in the future.
Aster blends centralized exchange features with DeFi fundamentals. It offers fast, user-friendly trading with self-custody, passive yield, and access to both crypto and stock markets. This unique mix has helped it stand out from other DEXs.
Aster’s token launch in September 2025 was one of the most talked-about events in DeFi that year. The team kicked things off with a Token Generation Event and an airdrop. Early users and holders of the previous APX token were among the first to receive ASTER.
Many expected the airdrop to cause heavy selling. Over 700 million tokens were unlocked at launch. But instead of dropping, the price surged. ASTER started trading around $0.0089. Within hours, it spiked to nearly $0.50 before pulling back slightly. That’s more than a 50× move on day one.
The rally didn’t stop there. Over the next few days, the token climbed even higher. By the end of the week, it had gained over 1,900% compared to launch. At its peak, ASTER reached almost $1.94 on some platforms.
Such rapid growth is rare, especially for tokens with large initial supply. Still, the buying pressure kept building. Many traders began calling Aster “the next BNB” as its market cap crossed $1 billion in just a few days.
The massive airdrop didn’t cause the usual wave of selling. Demand was so strong that it overwhelmed any token unlocks. In the first 24 hours alone, ASTER jumped over 400%, surprising even experienced traders. Those who held onto their airdrop saw life-changing returns.
The rally wasn’t random. Aster’s team used smart tactics and tight supply mechanics to fuel momentum.
A key move was requiring APX holders to convert their tokens into ASTER within a set deadline. This created urgency and limited the token’s free float early on. At the same time, most of the supply was reserved for rewards and airdrops. This left very few tokens available to trade.
As the token pumped, Aster’s platform numbers also soared. Within one day, total value locked crossed $1 billion. Daily trading volume hit billions as well. These real numbers made the hype feel justified, and that only brought in more buyers.
Aster positioned itself as a direct rival to platforms like Hyperliquid. It offered unique features like perpetuals on stock assets. This helped the project stand out and gave the community a story to rally around.
Another major driver behind Aster’s success was its backing by top figures in the Binance ecosystem.
YZi Labs, the newly branded venture arm of Binance, was an early backer. They had already invested in Astherus, one of the platforms that merged to create Aster. That earlier relationship laid the foundation for deeper ties.
Traders noticed this. They saw that Binance’s VC arm had confidence in Aster. Many took this as a signal that the project might integrate into Binance’s broader ecosystem down the line.
Even more impactful was the support from Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ. Although he stepped down as Binance CEO in 2025, his influence remained strong. During Aster’s launch, he praised the team publicly. He even highlighted the platform’s unique features, like stock-based perpetuals.
CZ rarely comments on non-Binance projects. His words added major credibility. Some speculated that Binance might adopt or promote Aster more directly in the future. Others simply took his praise as enough reason to invest.
The involvement of YZi Labs and the vocal support from CZ created a storm of investor confidence. This wasn’t just another DEX launching a token. Aster had serious backing, strong tokenomics, and high demand.
In the end, it was this mix of narrative, urgency, strong numbers, and trusted names that made ASTER one of the fastest-growing DeFi tokens in recent memory.
In crypto, a single post can move markets. That’s exactly what happened when CZ, Binance’s co-founder, tweeted about Aster.
CZ shared a simple message – “Keep building”, alongside a chart showing Aster’s price spike. Though subtle, the tweet felt like an endorsement. CZ rarely comments on altcoins outside of Binance’s own projects. So, his mention of Aster was unusual. Traders saw it as a powerful signal.
Momentum was already building after the airdrop. But CZ’s post lit a fire. ASTER’s price surged again within hours. It reached new highs as buyers flooded in, reacting to what many viewed as a green light from crypto’s most influential voice.
CZ didn’t stop at a single tweet. As debate grew around Aster’s rise, he jumped into conversations. Some users joked that he was “shilling” the token. He responded by saying that YZi Labs had backed many projects, Aster included, and that he discussed all of them openly.
Still, the impact was done. Just by acknowledging Aster, CZ drew more eyes to the project. Traders and analysts began to rethink the entire space. Suddenly, Aster wasn’t just another DEX. It became a serious challenger to Hyperliquid, the dominant name in on-chain perpetuals at the time.
CZ’s tweet didn’t just boost a token. It shifted the tone of the entire market. Industry watchers began talking about a new rivalry. Aster, backed by Binance’s venture arm, had entered the arena with real momentum.
CZ also raised ideas about the future of DEXs. He mentioned dark pool-style trading features that could protect large trades from slippage and MEV. Aster already offered something similar – hidden orders and MEV protection. This made it seem like Aster was aligned with the very improvements CZ wanted to see in the DEX space.
Hyperliquid couldn’t ignore the shift. The platform adjusted its fees and reward models in response. It even listed ASTER futures with 3× leverage to capture the growing interest. Not long after, Binance itself reportedly listed an ASTER/USDT perpetual contract with 50× leverage. That only added to Aster’s momentum.
What started as a tweet ended up reshaping the market. CZ’s support didn’t just boost visibility. It gave Aster legitimacy. That helped pull in liquidity, traders, and attention across the space.
Now, the race between Aster and Hyperliquid is being called the start of the “DEX wars.” And it all began with a few words from one of crypto’s biggest names.
For most of 2025, Hyperliquid dominated the decentralized perpetuals exchange space. Its token, HYPE, was at the center of a platform that held over 90% of market volume. But that grip has started to weaken.
In just a few weeks after launching, Aster carved out a sizeable slice of the market. From zero, it reached around 19 to 20 percent of the decentralized perps trading volume. That kind of growth, in such a short span, is almost unheard of.
Meanwhile, Hyperliquid’s share dropped from roughly 95% down to about 70%. This sharp change shows how quickly traders and liquidity providers began moving over to Aster.
Between September 19 and 20, Aster’s 24-hour trading volume reached $700 million. For a short time, it even surpassed Hyperliquid on daily volume. That milestone marked a shift in sentiment. Aster wasn’t just new, it was now a direct threat.
The platform also saw massive user growth. Over 330,000 wallets were onboarded in a single day, helped by its airdrop and multi-chain access. Hyperliquid, while still ahead in total value locked, saw its steady growth flatten. The buzz around Aster clearly stole some momentum.
Hyperliquid still holds strong fundamentals. It runs on a single-chain architecture with over $3–5 billion in TVL. Its systems are mature and efficient. But the story has changed.
Aster brought fresh energy, helped by a generous token airdrop that gave over half of its supply to the community. Its cross-chain design and association with Binance also played a big role. For many traders, Aster felt like the next big thing.
Now, the decentralized exchange space feels like a battleground. Hyperliquid represents the old guard – stable, optimized, and well-established. Aster is the challenger, fast-moving, flexible, and loud.
The DeFi world is watching. Can Aster keep this momentum? Or will Hyperliquid respond and hold the top spot? It’s too early to tell. But one thing is clear: Aster has already taken a large piece of the market. And that alone has reshaped the conversation around decentralized perpetuals.
Just when excitement around Aster was reaching its peak, a major name entered the scene. YouTube superstar MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, appeared to join the action.
On September 21, a wallet linked to MrBeast deposited around $114,000 worth of USDT into Aster DEX. The crypto community quickly picked up on it. Many believed it was a signal that MrBeast had purchased ASTER tokens.
This wasn’t the first time that wallet had caught attention. It had shown activity on other tokens before and held assets tied to MrBeast’s brand. So, the connection seemed credible.
Src: Arkham
Shortly after the deposit, ASTER’s price shot up again. It hit a new all-time high close to $1.97 that same day. As the news spread, social media lit up. CZ even chimed in with a cryptic emoji tweet that kept the conversation going.
For many traders, this moment felt huge. MrBeast isn’t just a crypto user, he’s a global figure with tens of millions of followers. His involvement gave Aster more than just crypto credibility. It hinted at broader mainstream exposure.
Of course, not everyone saw this as a game-changer. Some analysts reminded the community that influencer buys often create quick spikes but don’t always lead to sustained growth. MrBeast’s past crypto trades have had mixed results.
Still, the optics mattered. A celebrity buying into a new DEX project drew fresh attention. It also opened the door to new users who might not follow crypto closely but follow MrBeast.
Even if the buy was small in crypto terms, the public reaction was big. And in a market driven by momentum, that kind of visibility can go a long way.
Thinking of getting some ASTER yourself? While it may appear on other platforms later, Aster DEX is currently the main place to buy it.
First, download a Web3 wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet. Make sure it supports BNB Chain or any other network Aster supports. Back up your seed phrase and store it safely.
You’ll need USDT or BNB. Transfer USDT to your wallet address on BNB Chain. ASTER is usually traded against USDT. You can also use BNB for fees or as collateral.
Visit the official Aster site (asterdex.com). Connect your wallet to the platform. Check that you’re on the correct network – BNB Chain is a common choice. Double-check the website link to avoid phishing.
Choose the trading pair (USDT to ASTER). Enter the amount you want to buy, then confirm the swap. You can use either Simple Mode or Pro Mode. After you approve the transaction in your wallet, your ASTER will appear once it’s confirmed on-chain.
If you held APX or joined early, you may have unclaimed ASTER tokens. Look for a “Claim Airdrop” section on the platform after connecting your wallet. Many early users received free ASTER this way.
Once you own ASTER, you can hold it, stake it (if available), or use it for trading fee discounts or governance, depending on how the token’s utility evolves.
Keep some BNB in your wallet to pay for gas. And always use verified links when accessing Aster’s site. With all the hype, scammers may try to create fake tokens or copycat sites.
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