Aster News Today: Aster DEX's Quality-Over-Volume Shift Aims to Curb Speculation, Boost Sustainable DeFi Engagement

Aster DEX has launched the Season 2 (S2) phase of its Genesis program, introducing a "Full Refund of Transaction Fees" option for participants, alongside a revised multi-dimensional scoring system to reward trading quality over volume. The initiative, part of a broader airdrop strategy, allocates 4% of the total ASTER supply-320 million tokens-to S2 qualifiers, with an estimated value of $732 million. This phase builds on the platform's dual-mode trading interface (Simple and Pro) and its focus on multi-chain liquidity across BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Ethereum, and Solana.

The S2 scoring mechanism evaluates participants based on four key factors: Trading Volume Score (with takers earning 2x points over makers), Holding Time Score (capped at 2x weekly volume), Aster Asset Holding Score (using asBNB or USDF as margin), and Realized Profit and Loss Score (daily P&L contributions). Weekly calculations from Monday to Sunday determine Rh points, which accumulate toward the airdrop allocation post-Token Generation Event (TGE) on September 17, 2025. Referral incentives further enhance participation, with first-level referrals earning 10% and second-level referrals 5% of invitees' base Rh points.

Aster's S2 timeline is tightly defined. The claim period runs until October 5, 2025, with withdrawal availability starting October 1. Participants must have earned Rh or Au points from S1, received Gems allocations, or traded on Aster Pro between June 23 and August 24, 2025. Unclaimed tokens after October 17 will be reallocated to ecosystem development. The platform emphasizes transparency, with all airdrop data accessible via its official portal.

The "Full Refund of Transaction Fees" option is a strategic shift from volume-centric incentives. By prioritizing metrics like holding duration and asset utilization, Aster aims to foster sustainable participation while reducing short-term speculative activity. This aligns with broader industry trends toward quality-driven engagement in DeFi. However, the program's success hinges on user adoption of the revised scoring criteria, which may require education on optimizing Rh point generation.

Aster's TGE and airdrop strategy reflect its ambition to solidify its position in the decentralized derivatives market. With over $258 billion in cumulative trading volume and backing from YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), the platform is positioned to compete with Hyperliquid and other layer-2 solutions. The S2 phase's 4% token allocation-fully unlocked at TGE-signals confidence in the project's long-term utility and liquidity depth.

Source: [1] Aster TGE Launch and Season 2 Program | Aster Airdrop Guide (https://medium.com/@asterdex-airdrop-guide/aster-tge-launch-and-season-2-program-aster-airdrop-guide-b862eb5605b)