Aster advanced through 2025 with major upgrades, expanded chain support, new collateral assets, advanced trading tools, and large token events, marking a year of development that many projects rarely achieve in a decade.
Following this stellar performance, pundit Jake Gagain stated that Aster has accomplished more than most crypto projects achieve in ten years. He further congratulated the team behind this CZ-endorsed project for putting the Aster ecosystem a decade ahead despite launching three months ago.
Rebrand and Early 2025 Platform Growth
Aster launched in September following its merger with Astherus at the end of 2024. The new name went live in March, and the team continued to build on ApolloX’s volume base, which had passed $500 billion since launch in 2021. Notably, the platform also kept its large user group from its time as the largest perpetual DEX on BNB Chain.
During the first part of the year, Aster added several upgrades. The referral program launched with a 50/50 split between users, and the platform opened support for Arbitrum to expand its chain coverage. Users could then trade across BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum via cross-chain deposits.
Collateral support also widened early in the year. USDF was added, and USD1 was approved on May 9th. Later, SOL and other assets joined the multi-asset margin mode. This created a cross-margin system with automatic balancing that supported broader trading strategies.
Mid-Year Trading Features and Mobile Expansion
Aster released Hidden Orders in mid-2025 to help traders reduce exposure to front-running. The Pro Interface added Hedge Mode for long-short positions. The platform has continued to adjust its risk tools, introducing partial-close functions toward the end of the year. The Aster Rewards Hub also opened.
Meanwhile, users can now complete tasks and earn Rh points, vouchers, and boosters. The mobile app reached more users from June onward. It launched on Google Play and iOS via TestFlight before receiving a full App Store release. This gave traders mobile access to spot and perpetual markets with faster execution.
Airdrop Stages, TGE, and Exchange Access
Aster entered its airdrop cycles, with Stage 1 ending on June 22nd. Stage 2 followed and closed on October 5th, and claims began on October 14th. Stage 3 then opened and ran until November 9th.
The Stage 3 checker went live on December 1st, and claims will open on December 15th. The Token Generation Event took place on September 17th, with a total of 704 million ASTER released to users.
The token has gained listings on Binance, Coinbase, Bybit, Gate.io, KuCoin, Kraken, and other exchanges, increasing accessibility and trading volume. Furthermore, the Rocket Launch product was released on October 23rd to support new project tokens. The first campaign featured the APRO token, and more rounds are in the plan. Notably, the feature was added as part of a broader push to support new liquidity.
Late-Year Aster Buybacks, Burns, and Token Utility
Aster continued its buyback program through 2025. By November 13th, the project had collected $214 million in tokens across multiple phases. On December 5th, Aster burned 77.8 million tokens. The team said the tokens “are gone for good,” and an equal amount was locked for future rewards. During this period, ASTER was also approved as collateral on the platform.
This expanded the token’s use and allowed traders to manage more positions. Market activity remained steady, and ASTER held above $1 despite market swings. The platform also introduced Light Mode for its interface, giving users an alternative visual option. This was released as part of broader updates to improve user access across devices.
Roadmap Toward Aster Chain and 2026 Development Plans
Aster released its 2026 H1 roadmap, outlining several structural changes to the ecosystem. The Aster Chain layer-1 network will launch in the first quarter, and it aims to provide near-instant finality for high-volume perpetual trading. The chain will also include Aster Code, a toolkit for developers who want to build on the network.
The roadmap also includes regulated payment channels that will connect traditional finance users to decentralized markets through direct on-ramps and off-ramps. Native staking and on-chain governance will arrive in the second quarter, and both features will expand ASTER’s role in the ecosystem.
Additionally, Aster will also introduce its Smart Money system, which will allow users to copy the positions of top traders through on-chain tracking. This tool is expected to support new strategies as Aster moves into its next growth phase, after a year in which it accomplished more than most tokens do in 10 years.
Temitope Olajide
The CoinRemark Team
