Changpeng “CZ” Zhao addressed confusion after a viral post wrongly claimed that BlackRock filed for a staked Aster ETF. His response came as the post spread quickly, sparking new discussion about the possibility that the leading asset manager snubbed XRP and Solana in favor of Aster ETFs.
CZ Addresses Viral Claims and Rising ETF Confusion
Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder of Binance, responded to the claim as it spread quickly across social platforms, stating that Aster “does not need fake photoshopped pics” because the project can grow through its work and real adoption.
4. Fake. Even big KOLs gets fooled once in a while.
Aster doesn’t need these fake photoshopped pics to grow. 😂 https://t.co/4MgjRgC7q9
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) December 9, 2025
The post from MartiniGuyYT suggested that BlackRock filed for a staked Aster ETF. Yet BlackRock has already said it is focused only on Bitcoin and Ethereum and has no near-term plan for a new crypto ETF.
Moreover, this earlier statement prompted CZ to speak as traders began to assume that a new regulated product from BlackRock for Aster is imminent. He noted big KOLs get “fooled once in a while,” and the rumors were untrue. BlackRock has also not responded to this at press time.
Broader Market Context and ETF Activity Across Crypto
Notably, public interest in ETFs remains strong as Bitcoin and Ethereum products continue to lead flows. BlackRock’s BTC and ETH funds still attract most institutional demand, and the firm has said that any new idea depends on clear client interest.
Recent market data also showed varied inflows and outflows across major crypto ETFs. Analysts closely watched these movements because they indicate real capital entering and leaving regulated products during volatile periods. Activity across BTC and ETH funds showed shifting positions as investors moved into year-end trading.
Meanwhile, conversations around smaller assets like Aster often rise when viral claims spark sudden attention. Changpeng Zhao’s comment aimed to calm the confusion that could potentially mislead prospective investors.
Aster Joins Broader Market Downtrend
Meanwhile, ASTER continued to correct like the rest of the market, down over 4% in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency fell below $1 last week and has since traded lower, dropping to $0.93 at the time of writing.
Despite this negative trend, analysts believe the Aster ecosystem has lots to celebrate even as the years wind down. A recent report shows that Aster has achieved in a few months what some projects have not achieved in ten years, citing adoption, ecosystem upgrades, and massive use cases.
Temitope Olajide
The CoinRemark Team
