ASTER Jumps 9% Ahead of Layer 1 Launch

Aster (ASTER) trades at $0.6993, rising 7.63% over the past 24 hours as momentum builds ahead of its planned layer 1 mainnet launch in March. The move follows increased trading activity and renewed attention on the project’s infrastructure rollout.

The decentralized perpetual exchange, endorsed by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, confirmed that it will deploy Aster Chain’s mainnet as part of its 2026 roadmap. 

The transition will move the network from testing into full production after several testnet phases. The public testnet went live in early February 2026 and attracted more than 50,000 participants following earlier whitelisted trials in late 2025.

Infrastructure Expansion Drives Strategy

Aster designed its dedicated layer 1 blockchain to support its on-chain trading products and provide tools for developers. The network will include integrated fiat on- and off-ramps, aiming to streamline user access. The roadmap outlines community-driven upgrades to the decentralized exchange, governance features powered by the native token, staking mechanisms, and broader on-chain participation.

The team also plans to expand into synthetic markets tied to real-world assets, including stock perpetual contracts. This approach would extend its offerings beyond crypto-native derivatives. 

Can this infrastructure shift position Aster among the leading on-chain derivatives platforms?

Perpetual Futures Market Growth

Perpetual futures contracts allow traders to maintain leveraged positions without expiration dates. Instead of rolling contracts forward, traders pay funding rates to hold positions indefinitely. This structure fueled significant growth across decentralized exchanges in 2025.

Cumulative perpetual DEX trading volume nearly tripled last year, rising from roughly $4 trillion to more than $12 trillion by year-end. About $7.9 trillion of that activity occurred within the calendar year alone. 

Monthly volumes crossed the $1 trillion mark in October, November, and slightly below in December, signaling sustained demand for decentralized derivatives.

Source: DefiLlama via X

This surge coincided with increased regulatory scrutiny on centralized exchanges. As a result, traders sought non-custodial platforms that offer leveraged exposure without relinquishing asset control. Aster’s move toward a dedicated application-specific blockchain aligns with a broader industry shift toward custom infrastructure designed for high-throughput trading.

DEX Volume Sparks Price Momentum

On February 10, ASTER climbed more than 10% to around $0.66 after its decentralized exchange processed over $3 billion in 24-hour volume. The price move outpaced a largely flat broader crypto market. At the same time, overall trading volume for the token rose 27%, reflecting increased participation.

Source: My Token via X

High on-chain activity often correlates with stronger token demand, especially when the token supports governance and staking functions. However, market participants have flagged a scheduled token unlock on February 17, which could introduce short-term supply pressure.

Technical Structure Shows Early Shift

From a technical perspective, ASTER recently broke above a five-month descending trendline after holding support near $0.59. Rising trading volume and open interest confirmed the breakout, suggesting a potential structural shift. The next technical level sits near $0.72, which aligns with a prior resistance zone.

Source: Trading View via X

Daily chart analysis shows price approaching a key supply area. Momentum indicators point to building strength, yet analysts note that confirmation requires sustained trading above the breakout region. Without follow-through, price could revisit support levels within the broader trend.

For now, ASTER trades near local highs as infrastructure milestones approach and derivatives activity accelerates. Traders and investors will watch both the March mainnet launch and volume trends to gauge whether the current recovery evolves into a sustained reversal.