Aster Launches Stock Perpetual Contracts for Leveraged U.S. Equity Trading

Aster, a decentralized trading platform backed by YZi Labs, has introduced a new product: stock perpetual contracts. This innovation allows crypto-native traders to gain leveraged exposure to leading U.S. equities without the need for intermediaries or custodial limitations. The launch of these stock-based derivatives represents a significant advancement in Aster’s mission to integrate traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi).

With the new stock perpetuals now live on Aster Pro, users can trade high-demand equities such as Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Meta, and Tesla, with leverage of up to 50x. Additional stocks are expected to be added in the near future. Unlike traditional brokerage platforms, which operate within strict trading hours and require full Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, Aster’s decentralized model provides users with 24/7 access to equity markets. This eliminates the need for red tape, signups, and custodial delays, offering a more flexible and efficient trading experience.

While liquidity may vary during off-peak hours, reflecting real-world stock market dynamics, Aster ensures efficient execution during U.S. market hours through its deep liquidity pools. This allows traders to manage their exposure at all times, with optimal performance during key trading windows. The upcoming NASDAQ 24/5 trading rollout is expected to further improve Aster’s liquidity sync with traditional markets.

Leonard, Aster’s Chief Executive, highlighted the platform’s innovative approach: “Aster is about breaking down barriers, whether that’s asset types, market hours, or outdated trading infrastructures. With decentralized stock perpetual contracts, we’re opening the doors for crypto traders to access the biggest U.S. equities with the privacy and speed they deserve.”

Aster’s pricing infrastructure relies on the Pyth Network, ensuring accurate and tamper-resistant price data through aggregation from multiple verified sources. This system supports the security and transparency of all Aster perpetuals, enabling users to make informed trading decisions with confidence. Combined with a high-speed matching engine and optimized liquidity management, Aster has established itself as a leading player in the perpetual DEX market.

Traders can utilize Aster’s stock perps for various strategies. For instance, an investor holding Tesla shares outside of the blockchain can hedge downside risk by opening a short position on TSLA/USDT directly on Aster, fully on-chain and permissionless. The introduction of stock perpetual contracts is the latest milestone in Aster’s groundbreaking year, following the successful launch of the Aster Mobile app, the beta release of Aster Chain—a privacy-first, zero-knowledge Layer 1 blockchain—and the debut of Hidden Orders. Aster is rapidly expanding its ecosystem to serve both casual traders and seasoned professionals.

Aster is pioneering a new frontier by fusing the open, composable nature of decentralized finance with access to real-world assets like U.S. equities. With this vision, the platform is dissolving the boundaries between crypto and traditional finance, crafting a seamless, multi-asset trading experience—all within a decentralized, non-custodial framework. The exchange is actively shaping a future where traders can seamlessly interact with multiple asset classes—all from a decentralized and non-custodial environment.

Aster is a cutting-edge decentralized perpetual exchange offering frictionless trading with up to 1001x leverage on cryptocurrencies and sophisticated strategies including stock contracts, grid trading, and Hidden Orders. Operating across BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Ethereum, and Solana, Aster is powered by the Aster Chain, a high-speed Layer 1 blockchain built for privacy-preserving, on-chain orderbook trading.