Aster Surges 83.05% as Whales and Influencers Drive Volatility

Aster's latest price was $1.62, up 83.051% in the last 24 hours. This surge in price has been accompanied by significant activity and speculation within the cryptocurrency community. One notable event is the increased short position on ASTER by Huang Licheng, known as "Big Brother Ma Ji," on Hyperliquid. Huang's position size reached 350,000 ASTER, with an average entry price of $1.218 and a liquidation price of $2.62. Currently, Huang is facing an unrealized loss of $69,200. This move highlights the intense interest and volatility surrounding ASTER, as traders and investors alike are closely monitoring its performance.

On September 20th, a whale shorted ASTER with 3x leverage and is currently facing a loss of over $500,000. To avoid liquidation, they deposited 2.3 million USDC as collateral. The new liquidation price is $2.0907. This significant move by a large investor underscores the high-stakes nature of trading ASTER and the potential for substantial gains or losses. The whale's decision to increase collateral to avoid liquidation shows the level of risk involved in shorting ASTER, as the market's volatility can quickly turn against even the most experienced traders.

On the same day, on-chain analyst Ai Yi reported that the "Pal" increased its ASTER 3x short position to $270,000 (225,000 tokens), with an average entry price of $1.1376. Currently, the position is at a floating loss of $14,400. This move by "Pal" adds to the growing list of traders who are taking significant positions in ASTER, either long or short. The analyst's report provides insight into the strategies being employed by traders and the potential risks they are willing to take in pursuit of profits.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has expressed support for Aster (ASTER), a new decentralized derivatives platform aiming to challenge Hyperliquid’s dominance. In a Sept. 19 post on X, Zhao revealed that Aster had become the largest holder of BSC-USDT, apart from Binance’s own hot wallet. According to Arkham Intelligence data, Aster’s wallet holds $131 million in USDT, trailing Binance’s $236 million. This update came just one day after Zhao praised the project’s Token Generation Event (TGE), describing it as a strong beginning and urging its developers to continue building. His visible support added momentum to a token launch already drawing industry-wide attention.

Aster first launched as ApolloX in 2021 before merging with Astherus in late 2024, marking its rebrand and new direction, culminating in this week’s TGE. This event allowed ApolloX’s APX holders to swap their tokens for ASTER, rewarding long-time investors who had waited for the transition. Aster is backed by YZi Labs, a venture capital firm associated with Zhao. That structure, combined with Zhao’s backing, helped fuel investor enthusiasm.

Beyond investor enthusiasm, Aster has quickly positioned itself among the largest decentralized derivatives platforms. Data from DeFiLlama shows the platform processed $1.4 billion in trading volume within 24 hours of its launch, ranking it among the most active exchanges in the sector. However, the scale of competition is stark, with Hyperliquid, its main rival in the sector, handling about $10 billion in volume over the same period. The disparity illustrates Aster’s uphill challenge, even as Zhao’s endorsement and early trading data give the project a stronger foothold than most newcomers.

Crypto influencer CookerFlips has pulled off one of the fastest wins in recent trading history. According to blockchain tracking data, the trader deposited about $1.24 million into ASTER over three days. Additionally, withdrew tokens now worth $6.7 million. That means a profit of more than $5 million in just three days. The trade has turned heads across the crypto community. Not only for its scale but also for the speed at which the profit was realized. The move comes as ASTER, a newly listed token, experiences sharp volatility and heavy trading volumes.

Data from Arkham and Lookonchain suggests CookerFlips bought 5.57 million ASTER tokens soon after they started trading on September 17. The average entry price was close to $0.20 per token. It gives a total purchase value of about $1.24 million. Two hours before Lookonchain’s report, CookerFlips withdrew the tokens to a personal wallet. It is valued at nearly $6.7 million at the time. That puts the unrealized profit at over $5 million. It represents gains of more than 450% in less than a week. CookerFlips himself confirmed his position on X (formerly Twitter). Sharing screenshots of his holdings. While he noted he had not yet sold any tokens, the position alone has attracted massive attention. His post tagged fellow crypto traders and content creators. It is fueling speculation that others may have followed his move.

The size and speed of CookerFlips’ gains have split opinion in the crypto space. Supporters view it as a masterstroke of timing and conviction. While skeptics warn about the risks of chasing such rapid price movements. Some users highlighted the dangers of volatility in newly listed tokens. They argue that while CookerFlips may have hit the jackpot, latecomers could face steep losses if prices swing downward. Others pointed out that influencer-driven trades often create short-lived hype cycles, leaving smaller investors exposed. Still, the profit itself is undeniable. Few traders manage to earn millions in a day. CookerFlips’ ASTER position underscores the kind of outsized opportunities and risks. That crypto markets continue to present.

ASTER only launched on September 17. But the token has already seen intense speculation. Within days of listing, it attracted significant capital inflows and trading volumes across exchanges. CookerFlips’ high-profile investment amplified visibility for ASTER. With blockchain watchers tracking every move of his wallet. The token rapid appreciation has put it on the radar of traders hunting for the next big breakout. However, analysts caution that early-stage tokens often experience pump-and-dump cycles. Sharp gains may be followed by equally sharp corrections as liquidity and attention shift to newer projects. The involvement of influencers like CookerFlips adds further fuel to this volatility.

One reason the story has gained traction is the ability to verify the trades through on-chain data. Platforms like Arkham make it possible to track wallet inflows, outflows and token balances in real time. In this case, the transactions clearly show CookerFlips depositing stablecoins into ASTER contracts and later withdrawing millions of tokens. The blockchain’s transparency provides credibility. Even as debate continues around the risks of following influencer trades.

CookerFlips’ $5 million profit on ASTER in just three days is a reminder of crypto’s extreme potential. It highlights the massive opportunities for those who time trades well. But also the risks for others who may follow after the first wave of profits is made. As ASTER continues to trade actively, the project and its investors will face intense scrutiny. Whether this becomes another short-lived hype cycle or a longer-term success story will depend on how the market absorbs the attention. Currently, one thing is clear CookerFlips’ bold move has cemented his reputation as one of the most closely watched influencers in crypto trading.