A sudden disclosure by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao set off a sharp move in Aster’s token price and trading patterns.

According to reports, Zhao said he personally owns just over 2 million ASTER tokens — a holding that has been valued at about $2.5 million in coverage of the event.

That admission prompted a rapid buying wave and heavy media noise, with traders and observers trying to sort what the move means for the project and the broader4 market.

Aster Trading Activity On Fire As Price Rises

Based on reports, ASTER climbed from roughly $0.91 to a peak near $1.26 on the day the disclosure hit newsfeeds. Volume also surged: one snapshot put 24-hour turnover at around $224 million before the announcement and at more than $2 billion afterward.

Platform metrics moved too; total value locked on the Aster system reached about $1 billion dollars in recent updates. Market watchers pointed out that those jumps happened within hours of Zhao’s statement, pushing the token into headlines and onto many traders’ watchlists.

Full disclosure. I just bought some Aster today, using my own money, on @Binance.

I am not a trader. I buy and hold. pic.twitter.com/wvmBwaXbKD

— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) November 2, 2025

Supply Concerns And Background Ties

Reports have disclosed that Aster’s circulating supply stands at about 2 billion tokens while total supply is 8 billion. That gap has raised alarms among analysts who say future token unlocks could add selling pressure.

At the same time, discussion has grown about whether Zhao’s stake represents a purely personal bet or something tied to past venture ties, like connections to YZi Labs (previously Binance Labs).

Some community voices welcomed the vote of confidence, while others urged caution and more disclosure about timing and intent.

Whales, Shorts And The Need For Transparency

Traders already placed big bets in both directions after the pop. Some large holders were reported to be taking profits, while short sellers were opening positions on the belief that the rally could be fleeting.

Based on reports, competition with other derivatives and exchange projects — names like Hyperliquid were mentioned in analyst commentary — will test whether Aster can keep user interest beyond the headlines.

Observers also flagged that massive daily volume spikes are often followed by quick retracement if underlying usage does not grow.

Volume, Unlock Schedules, And Product Signals

Investors and reporters will be watching three main things: whether high trading volume holds up, how many tokens are set to unlock and hit markets, and whether the project builds real, steady user activity on its platform.

According to current data, those variables will likely determine if this move becomes a lasting repricing or a short-lived event.

Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView

Aster (ASTER) has seen heightened volatility in recent sessions as broader market selling pressure weighs on altcoins and investor sentiment remains fragile. Yet in the midst of this downturn, the token drew unexpected attention when Changpeng Zhao (CZ) — Binance’s former CEO — posted on X that he personally bought ASTER using his own funds directly on Binance. The comment immediately sparked debate across the crypto community, with some viewing it as a confidence signal and others treating it with caution given current market conditions.

However, not all major traders share the bullish view. Shortly after CZ’s post, notable on-chain whale 0x9eec increased a bearish positioning, adding significantly to an already large ASTER short position. This divergence between a high-profile buyer and a whale doubling down on shorts has injected further uncertainty into the market narrative surrounding ASTER.

Price action remains choppy as traders weigh institutional behavior, community influence, and market structure. With sentiment split and volatility rising, ASTER finds itself at the center of a tug-of-war between speculative confidence and defensive positioning — a dynamic that could define its near-term trajectory.

Whale Bets Against Aster Despite CZ’s Public Support

Aster finds itself at the center of an unusual market disconnect, where public sentiment and whale activity are pulling in opposite directions. According to Lookonchain data, shortly after CZ publicly stated that he bought ASTER with his own funds, an influential on-chain trader took the opposite stance. Wallet 0x9eec, a whale known for large directional plays, has been aggressively increasing his ASTER short exposure, signaling skepticism about the token’s near-term performance.

The address now holds 42.97 million ASTER in shorts, currently valued at approximately $52.8 million, with a liquidation price set at $2.091. This is a significant position that clearly reflects conviction — and raises questions across the market. While CZ’s comment boosted visibility and briefly stirred bullish chatter, this whale’s response appears to embody professional skepticism, positioning for downside rather than momentum continuation.

This divergence between symbolic insider confidence and quant-driven bearish positioning highlights a broader dynamic in the current market. Retail participants often react quickly to influencer commentary, while large traders lean on order flow, funding dynamics, and liquidity structure. With Aster trading in a volatile environment and crypto markets under macro pressure, whales appear more focused on risk management and price structure than narrative.

The fact that such a large short exists, and continues to grow, suggests that sophisticated players anticipate either further correction or a liquidity event before a sustainable upside move. For traders, the key will be watching whether ASTER approaches the whale’s liquidation zone — a level that could create violent short-covering if reclaimed — or whether the market continues to follow the whale’s thesis and slides lower.

ASTER Downtrend Intact Below Key Moving Averages

Aster’s price action on the 4-hour chart shows continued weakness despite a brief volatility spike triggered by CZ’s announcement. The token remains in a clear downtrend, consistently trading below the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, signaling that bearish momentum still dominates. The sharp bounce toward $1.25 quickly faded, with sellers stepping in almost immediately and pushing the price back toward the $1.00 zone. This reaction suggests that the rally was driven more by short-term sentiment following CZ’s mention than by sustained demand.

The failed breakout attempt also highlights how fragile confidence is in the current market environment. The moving averages are sloping downward, reinforcing a bearish structure, and price has yet to reclaim key resistance levels around $1.20–$1.30, which would be required to signal any meaningful trend reversal. Volume spiked during the recent move, indicating aggressive positioning — likely tied to short buildup from whales, as seen in on-chain data.

Right now, the $0.95–$1.00 range appears to be acting as immediate support, but if selling persists, a deeper retracement toward prior liquidity zones cannot be ruled out. For bulls to regain control, Aster must reclaim the 50-day MA and hold above it with sustained volume. Until then, caution remains warranted, as price structure favors sellers and broader market sentiment remains fragile.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

ASTER price ripped higher after Changpeng Zhao revealed a personal purchase of about 2.09 million ASTER at roughly $0.91. His post included a wallet screenshot and a clear note that he buys and holds, which yanked liquidity into the books and lifted the coin more than 30 percent before cooling.

What sparked the move

The disclosure landed in thin weekend conditions, so the signal traveled fast. Momentum carried to resistance near $1.25, then eased toward the $1 area as profit taking and hedges appeared. Separate coverage noted whales opening sizable short positions into the spike, a familiar fade when headlines run ahead of structure.

ASTER price check and key levels

At the time of writing, ASTER price sits near one dollar after stalling close to $1.25. The $0.98 to $1.02 band acts as first support, while a firm close above $1.25 would open $1.35 to $1.40. A break back below $0.98 risks a return to the mid $0.90s. These levels mirror simple supply pockets that formed during the jump. For reference, ASTER price held firm above the prior breakout now.

On chain and market structure signals

Open interest expanded as funding flipped choppy, which fits a market digesting a surprise catalyst with mixed positioning. Through the session, ASTER price tracked funding flips and basis. Reported shorts in the tens of millions hint at hedging by fast money as well as directional bets. That blend often leads to two way trade until either shorts cover or fresh spot demand builds.

Fundamentals to watch

Aster has updated its buyback and airdrop design. Half of all S2 and S3 buybacks are burned, and half are routed to a locked airdrop address to reduce near term circulation while reserving future distributions. The team framed the change as part of a plan to support long term value through iterative burns and controlled flows. Tokenomics that combine burns with lockups can tighten float if volume proves organic and if treasury flows persist through cycles. As mechanics iterate, ASTER price may react faster to burns.

ASTER price drivers to monitor

First, watch whether the prominent buyer signal repeats or remains a one off. Second, track spot depth across pairs to see if liquidity broadens beyond the first wave. Third, follow funding and open interest for signs that shorts unwind or pressure builds. As these threads play out, ASTER price will respond to changes in depth, funding, and realized volatility.

The move arrived during a range bound backdrop for majors, where micro catalysts tend to dominate intraday action. In that kind of tape, narrative can outrun models for a session, then hand control back to structure. If broader liquidity improves, mid caps with clear stories tend to catch sympathy flows.

Conclusion

The headline was simple and strong, yet durability now rests on execution and flows. If buybacks and burns keep tightening float while spot demand deepens, ASTER price can build a base above the one dollar line. If shorts press and liquidity thins, the path likely leans back toward the prior range. In simple terms, ASTER price now trades on proof, not promises. For now, ASTER price sits at a delicate inflection that rewards patience and disciplined levels.

FAQs

What triggered the rally? A public disclosure of a personal purchase by a high profile industry figure, confirmed with a wallet screenshot on social media.

Is the spike sustainable? It depends on follow through in spot demand, the behavior of shorts, and the execution of the burn plus airdrop design.

Where can traders anchor risk? Many use the one dollar zone and the $1.25 spike high as references while watching funding and open interest.

Glossary

Buyback and burn: A model where the project repurchases tokens and permanently destroys a portion to reduce supply.

Locked airdrop address: A wallet that holds tokens earmarked for future distribution under set rules, lowering immediate circulation.

Open interest: The total value of outstanding futures or perpetual contracts, a gauge of positioning that can amplify moves.

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