Aster News Today: DeFiLlama's Aster Delisting Sparks Data Integrity vs. Decentralization Debate

DeFiLlama, a leading analytics platform for decentralized finance, has delisted Aster (ASTER) perpetual futures trading volume data, citing concerns over data integrity and potential wash trading. The decision, announced by pseudonymous co-founder 0xngmi on October 5, 2025, followed an investigation revealing near-perfect correlation between Aster's trading volumes and Binance's perpetual futures data across multiple pairs, including XRP/USDT and ETH/USDT. Aster's volumes mirrored Binance's with a ratio of approximately 1:1, a pattern absent in rival Hyperliquid. DeFiLlama emphasized that Aster's lack of granular data-such as maker/taker order details-precluded verification of whether wash trading occurred, prompting the delisting until transparency improves. The move triggered an immediate 10% decline in ASTER's price, which fell to $1.83 from a recent high of $2.27.

The delisting has sparked debate within the crypto community. Critics argue that DeFiLlama's decision undermines decentralization, with some attributing the correlation to legitimate liquidity migration from Binance to Aster's on-chain platform. Proponents of DeFiLlama, however, stress the importance of data integrity for investor trust, noting that the platform's users rely on its metrics for investment decisions. Anndy Lian, a blockchain figure with ties to both Aster and Hyperliquid, defended the practice of liquidity alignment, stating that "all crypto projects have washed trades" and arguing that market share acquisition is a legitimate business strategy.

Aster's rapid rise to prominence, marked by a $60 billion daily trading volume peak on September 25, has been scrutinized for its reliance on unverified metrics. The platform, backed by figures linked to former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, also announced a Phase 2 airdrop of 4% of its total supply (320 million ASTER tokens) with no lock-up period, exacerbating concerns about sell pressure. Analysts warn that the airdrop could deepen the price decline, with some projecting a potential drop to $1 as traders offload unlocked tokens. Aster's Stage 3 roadmap, set to launch on October 10, includes spot trading rewards and multi-dimensional scoring systems, but its success hinges on restoring confidence in its data transparency.

The incident highlights broader challenges in DeFi's data verification landscape. DeFiLlama's decision underscores the industry's struggle to distinguish genuine market activity from artificial volume inflation. With perpetual futures dominating ~80% of crypto trading volume, accurate metrics are critical for assessing liquidity and risk. Aster's case has reignited calls for standardized on-chain data reporting and independent audits to ensure verifiability. Meanwhile, Binance's planned listing of ASTER with a Seed Tag and Aster's VIP fee updates aim to bolster liquidity, though their effectiveness remains uncertain without credible volume data.

Sources:

[1] Cryptonews.com (https://cryptonews.com/news/defillama-to-delist-aster-volume-data-over-suspected-wash-trading/)

[2] FinancialContent (https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/breakingcrypto-2025-10-7-defillama-halts-astar-data-amid-wash-trading-scandal-rocking-defi-transparency)

[3] CoinCentral (https://coincentral.com/aster-price-drops-as-dex-delisted-by-defillama-over-trading-volume-concerns/)

[4] TheCryptoBasic (https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/10/06/defillama-suspends-reporting-of-aster-volumes-amid-doubts-over-data-integrity/)

[5] Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/aster-delisting-exposes-defi-integrity-crisis)

[6] CoinPedia (https://coinpedia.org/news/aster-crypto-price-drops-over-10-as-defillama-delisting-sparks-wash-trading-concerns/)

[7] CryptoInsightFull (https://cryptoinsightfull.com/index.php/2025/10/06/defillama-delists-asters-perpetual-futures-data-following-wash-trading-suspicions/)

[8] BeInCrypto (https://beincrypto.com/defillama-aster-dex0airdrop/)

[9] CoinCodex (https://coincodex.com/article/74313/defillama-delists-aster-binance-like-volumes/)

[10] Gadgets360 (https://www.gadgets360.com/cryptocurrency/news/defillama-suspends-aster-trading-volume-over-trading-concerns-crypto-news-9409795)