Aster has climbed to the top of the 24-hour perpetual futures trading volume rankings as traders position ahead of an upcoming $75 million token release. The surge in activity has placed the platform firmly in focus across the derivatives market.
Aster Tops Global Perp Volume
Recent data from DeFi analytics platform DeFiLlama shows that Aster leads all protocols in 24-hour perpetual trading volume, recording approximately $6.81 billion in trades during the period. According to DeFiLlama, Aster outperformed several major platforms, including Lighter and HyperLiquid, highlighting a sharp rise in liquidity and trader participation. The increase comes as market participants anticipate potential volatility tied to a scheduled token unlock.
Meanwhile, perpetual futures markets typically see spikes in activity around major supply events, as traders hedge spot exposure or speculate on price direction.
In Aster’s case, the elevated volume suggests growing confidence in the platform’s infrastructure and execution, alongside heightened short-term trading interest.
Traders Position Ahead of $75 Million Token Release
In other news, a recent report by CryptoRank also revealed that Aster currently leads the pack among the seven tokens with the largest asset unlocks scheduled this week.
CryptoRank revealed this information in an X post highlighting that the total unlocks amount to $199 million, and Aster’s upcoming $75 million token unlock makes up roughly 37% of the total figure.
Meanwhile, LayerZero comes second with a $37 million token release, and Arbitrum follows it with a $19.78 million scheduled token unlock. Meanwhile, Vana, ESPORTS, STBL, and Merlin Chain make up the rest of the pack.
Interestingly, Aster’s $75 million token unlock, scheduled for December 17, represents 0.98% of its total supply and will be a significant addition to its circulating supply upon release. Such events often introduce selling pressure, particularly if newly unlocked tokens enter the market quickly.
As a result, both long and short positions have reportedly increased, signaling divergent expectations among traders. While some anticipate downside risk from added supply, others believe the market may have already priced in the unlock, limiting its impact once the tokens go live.
What the Post-Unlock Period Could Mean for Aster
How Aster performs after the token release will be a critical test. If trading volume remains elevated and liquidity holds steady, it could indicate that recent activity reflects sustainable growth rather than short-term speculation.
Meanwhile, crypto market expert MANDO CT, when commenting on the recent unlock, highlighted that massive token unlocks of this size have the capacity to shift near-term market dynamics.
Thus, market watchers will be paying close attention to price action, open interest, and volume trends in the days following the release. However, for now, Aster’s dominance in perp volume rankings underscores its rising profile at a pivotal moment for the project.
The CoinRemark Team
