Main Takeaway: Aster is a multi-chain perpetual DEX rebranded from ApolloX–Astherus, backed and incubated by Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao’s YZi Labs. It offers up to 1001× leverage, features hidden orders, and has rocketed over 1,800% since its September 2025 token launch, driven by high-profile endorsements, whales, and a massive community airdrop.

Project Overview and Purpose

Aster is a decentralized exchange specializing in perpetual futures trading with CEX-style matching, combining non-custodial security and on-chain settlement. Its key features include:

• Multi-chain support: Native DEX across BNB Chain, Ethereum, and others.

• Dual trading modes:

  • Simple Mode (on-chain, one-click, up to 1001× leverage)

  • Pro Mode (order book, hidden orders, low fees)

• Spot markets + perpetuals: Unique among DEXs to offer both.

• Yield & liquidity products: Integrates Astherus’s yield-focused features.

Aster launched via an APX → ASTER swap on September 17, 2025, rewarding APX holders and reserving 40% of total supply for community airdrops to incentivize platform usage.

Founders and Investors

• Origins:

  • Launched as ApolloX in November 2021.

  • Merged with Astherus in late 2024 → rebranded Aster in September 2025.

• Core Team Lead: Tech lead roles trace to early ApolloX engineers (e.g., Stephen Z.) and APX community managers (e.g., Muhammed AZEEZ).

• Investors:

  • YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs)

  • Kronos Research

  • TokenPocket

  • SafePal

  • 3Commas

  • Lux Capital

  • LIF

These backers participated in APX’s June 2022 seed, raising $1 million.

Influencers and Endorsements

• Changpeng “CZ” Zhao (Binance):

  • Publicly praised Aster’s Token Generation Event (“Well done! Good start. Keep building!”), sparked 800% price jump.

• Disclosed Aster as the second-largest BSC-USDT holder behind Binance’s hot wallet.

• MrBeast (YouTuber):

  • Purchased $114K of ASTER, highlighting mainstream buzz and retail FOMO.

• On-chain sleuths & whales:

  • Lookonchain and Arkham Intelligence: tracked wallet holdings and massive leveraged buys that drove narratives of windfall gains and manipulation.

• Crypto commentators:

  • Wulf and other Twitter influencers amplified FOMO by speculating on Binance listings and airdrop value.

Drama, Debates, and Fun Facts

• Speculation on CZ’s role: Community divided on whether CZ secretly “launched” Aster to counter Hyperliquid’s growth.

• Regulatory intrigue: CZ is legally barred from running Binance, fueling rumors about indirect control via YZi Labs.

• Whale manipulation claims: Analysts flagged suspicious on-chain activity, labeling ASTER a “free-money trade” and warning of instant profit-taking schemes.

• Token concentration risks: 88.25% of supply held by four multisig wallets; one wallet controls 44.7%, raising dump-risk concerns.

• Meme culture: The “Four” meme (CZ buying 4 BNB worth) and “OG Four” references have become inside jokes motivating symbolic buys.

Tokenomics, Price, and Supply

• Ticker: ASTER

• Launch price: ~$0.08878 on September 17, 2025

• All-time high: $21.97 on September 21, 2025 (≈1,900% gain)

• Market cap at ATH: ~$3.26 billion

• Max supply: 8 billion tokens

• Community reserve: 40% of supply (~3.2 billion) for usage airdrops

• Concentration:

  • 5 wallets hold 93.5% total supply

  • Single wallet holds 44.7%

Aster represents a bold attempt to merge CEX-level UX with DeFi security, riding high on institutional backing, viral influencers, and aggressive token incentives. While its explosive launch underscores demand for performance-native DEXs, concentrated token holdings and rapid rallies warrant caution for late entrants.