TLDR
- DefiLlama found Aster’s volumes mirrored Binance’s perpetual futures data.
- The delisting triggered a 10% fall in Aster’s token price to $1.86.
- Aster’s unlocked airdrop added extra selling pressure before October 14.
- Community debate grew over transparency versus innovation in DeFi data.
DefiLlama has delisted Aster’s perpetual futures data after detecting trading patterns resembling Binance’s volumes. The correlation raised concerns about possible wash trading and transparency issues. The removal sparked a debate in the DeFi community and coincided with a more than 10% drop in Aster’s token price to $1.86.
DefiLlama Flags Non-Organic Activity in Aster’s Data
DefiLlama delisted Aster’s perpetual futures data from its analytics platform after internal analysis revealed trading volume patterns similar to Binance. Dashboard builder 0xngmi confirmed that Aster’s activity on pairs like XRPUSDT and ETHUSDT began mirroring Binance’s volumes almost exactly.
According to 0xngmi, Aster’s platform lacks access to detailed trading data, which prevents the identification of who is placing or filling orders. “Aster doesn’t make it possible to get lower-level data such as who is making and filling orders,” 0xngmi said. DefiLlama decided to remove the data until it can confirm that trading activity reflects organic market behavior.
Mixed Reactions Follow DefiLlama’s Decision
The delisting drew mixed reactions across the DeFi community. Some users suggested keeping Aster’s data on the dashboard with a disclaimer, but DefiLlama’s team rejected the idea, stating that it would distort total volume metrics on the platform.
Meanwhile, some analysts interpreted the correlation differently. A technology commentator known as TechLead on X said, “If they’ve actually on-ramped Binance liquidity into DeFi, it’s a done deal.” The statement sparked discussion among traders, dividing them between those who saw manipulation and those who viewed it as technical innovation.
During the controversy, ASTER’s price fell more than 10%, trading at around $1.86. Market observers said the drop reflected a mix of concerns around transparency and other project-specific factors.
Unlocked Airdrop Adds to Selling Pressure
Aster’s Genesis Stage 2 airdrop policy further pressured the token’s price. The team announced that the new distribution, set for October 14, will not include a lock-up period, allowing recipients to sell their tokens immediately after claiming them.
With 4% of the total supply unlocked at once, analysts such as Duo Nine warned of potential selling pressure. “This could bring ASTER’s price closer to $1, giving late buyers a discount,” the analyst said. Traders interpreted the setup as raising short-term liquidity risk, though the project described it as a measure to promote fairness and faster rewards.
Community Debate and Aster’s Future Outlook
Aster’s team stated that the unlocked reward model was designed to improve fairness, introduce team-based scoring boosts, and enhance trading incentives. However, many traders believe that such an approach could increase near-term volatility unless there is strong fee revenue to offset selling. One community member remarked, “Confidence in an unlocked airdrop requires enough fee revenue to buy back that sell pressure.”
The combination of alleged wash trading and the unlocked airdrop policy has created uncertainty around Aster’s growth prospects. For observers, the situation underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining transparency and data verifiability in decentralized exchanges. Market participants now await further clarification from both Aster and DefiLlama as the debate over fair trading and innovation continues.
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