Aster News Today: Crypto Market Rewards Utility Over Hype as Aster Tumbles and Digitap Surges

Aster's native token, ASTER, plummeted 14% in early October as DeFiLlama delisted the decentralized exchange's perpetual futures volume data, citing concerns over artificially inflated trading activity. The move sent shockwaves through the crypto market, with analysts pointing to a near-perfect 1-to-1 correlation between Aster's volumes and Binance's perpetual futures data as evidence of potential wash trading. Pseudonymous DeFiLlama co-founder 0xngmi highlighted the suspicious alignment, noting that Aster's XRPUSDT trading volumes mirrored Binance's "almost exactly," while competitors like Hyperliquid showed less synchronization.

The delisting triggered an immediate 10% drop in ASTER's price, pushing it below $1.83-nearly 20% below its recent weekly high of $2.27. Despite the downturn, large investors continued to accumulate, with blockchain analytics firm Arkham tracking a whale wallet purchasing 1.69 million ASTER tokens worth $3.16 million. However, broader market sentiment turned bearish, as "smart money" investors reduced ASTER holdings by 37% post-delisting.

Aster, launched in September as a Binance-backed rival to Hyperliquid, had seen explosive growth, including a 33,500% surge in open interest during its first week. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) publicly endorsed the platform, which briefly overtook Hyperliquid in daily trading volume. Yet the delisting by DeFiLlama-coupled with an upcoming Phase 2 token airdrop on October 10-heightened uncertainty. Analysts warned of further price declines, with some predicting ASTER could fall toward $1.71 if bearish momentum persisted.

Meanwhile, Digitap ($TAP) emerged as a contrasting success story. Its presale, fueled by a non-KYC Visa card enabling global crypto spending, surpassed $650,000 in funding. The project's omni-banking platform, which integrates with Apple Pay and Google Pay, has drawn comparisons to Aster's ambitions but targets the $290 trillion cross-border payments market. Digitap's $TAP token, trading at $0.0125, has attracted investors seeking utility-driven assets, with some analysts forecasting a 50× return if adoption accelerates.

The divergent trajectories underscore a broader market shift. While speculative DeFi projects like Aster face scrutiny over data integrity, practical solutions like Digitap's payment infrastructure are gaining traction. "The market is rewarding projects that deliver tangible utility over hype," noted one analyst, pointing to Digitap's presale success amid a cooling interest in meme coins and crowded DEX markets.

Aster's team has yet to respond to requests for comment on the DeFiLlama controversy. For now, the project's future hinges on restoring trust in its data and navigating the volatility ahead of its airdrop. In contrast, Digitap's live Visa card and presale momentum position it as a strong contender in the race to bridge crypto and traditional finance.

Source: [1] Aster Price Drops as DEX Delisted by DefiLlama Over Trading Volume Concerns (https://coincentral.com/aster-price-drops-as-dex-delisted-by-defillama-over-trading-volume-concerns/)

[2] How Low Could ASTER Price Go After Market Panic (https://beincrypto.com/aster-price-drops-after-defillama-delists-dex/)

[3] Aster Price Dips 10%: Wash Trading or Hidden Opportunity? (https://bitemycoin.com/news/aster-price-dips-over-10-after-defillama-delists-perpetuals-wash-trading-concerns/)

[4] DeFiLlama delists Aster DEX perpetual futures (https://www.cryptopolitan.com/defillama-delists-aster-perpetuals/)

[5] XRP Volumes on Aster DEX Mimic Those on Binance (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/10/06/xrp-volumes-on-aster-dex-mimic-those-on-binance-putting-focus-on-the-market-s-current-obsession)

[6] Aster plummets 14%: Digitap ($TAP) presale smashes $650K (https://invezz.com/news/2025/10/11/aster-plummets-14-digitap-tap-presale-smashes-650k-as-whales-bet-on-non-kyc-visa-card/)

[7] Analysts Eye BTC At $250K While DigiTap Presale Explodes Past $200K (https://www.analyticsinsight.net/cryptocurrency-analytics-insight/analysts-eye-btc-at-250k-while-digitap-presale-explodes-past-200k-on-visa-apple-pay-surge)

[8] As HYPE Stalls, $TAP Presale Smashes $150k (https://blockchainreporter.net/as-hype-stalls-tap-presale-smashes-150k-as-visa-card-demand-explodes/)

[9] Digitap's Cross-border Payment Feature Makes It the Best Pick for the Next 10x Coin (https://www.bitcoininsider.org/article/287996/digitaps-cross-border-payment-feature-makes-it-best-pick-next-10x-coin-above)

[10] Digitap's Cross-border Payment Feature Makes It the Best Pick for the Next 10x Coin (https://thecoinrise.com/digitaps-cross-border-payment-feature-makes-it-the-best-pick-for-the-next-10x-coin-above-ethereum-and-dogecoin/)