Aster Team Acquires Tokens at Discount to Reduce Selling Pressure

The Aster team has acquired a portion of KOL Round and Media Round tokens at a 5% discount to reduce selling pressure on the ASTER token. The acquisition is expected to have a positive impact on the token's value and will significantly reduce the selling pressure.

Robinhood has expanded its cryptocurrency offerings by listing three new tokens: Aster (ASTER), Plasma (XPL), and Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), according to a Tekedia report. This move aims to diversify the platform's crypto portfolio and cater to the growing demand for decentralized finance (DeFi), Layer 1 blockchains, and AI-integrated tokens.

Aster (ASTER) is a Binance-backed decentralized exchange (DEX) token specializing in perpetual futures trading with high-leverage options. Endorsed by Binance co-founder CZ, ASTER has seen a significant market cap peak of $3.9B and is currently trading around $1.25, down by ~10% post-listing.

Plasma (XPL) is a Bitcoin-secured, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain focused on stablecoins and real-world assets (RWAs). Backed by Tether, XPL has attracted $6B in total value locked (TVL) shortly after its September launch. It briefly surged above $0.50 post-listing but has since retreated to ~$0.44 amid Bitcoin dipping below $110K.

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) is a native token powering an AI-agent infrastructure network, enabling the deployment of autonomous digital agents for smart contracts, DeFi management, and tokenized economies. Part of the rising AI-DeFi trend, VIRTUAL saw initial post-listing buzz but faced broader market pullbacks.

These listings position Robinhood to compete more aggressively with platforms like Coinbase, especially for sophisticated traders interested in emerging ecosystems. Listing on Robinhood introduces these tokens to a mainstream audience, potentially driving adoption and trading volume. The platform's user-friendly interface and zero-commission trading make it easier for new investors to access these emerging tokens.

Jupiter, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator on Solana, has made headlines with transformative updates to its native governance token, JUP. These changes aim to enhance token scarcity, sustainability, and long-term value . Jupiter's pseudonymous founder, "Meow," announced plans to burn 3 billion JUP tokens, reducing the total supply from 10 billion to around 7 billion tokens. This symbolic act addresses concerns over high fully diluted valuation (FDV) and emissions.

Starting in late January 2025, Jupiter allocated 50% of its protocol fees to repurchase JUP tokens from the market. These buybacks are locked for long-term holding initially for three years, with the remaining 50% reinvested into ecosystem growth, strategy, and operations. The announcements coincided with other expansions, including the beta launch of "Jupnet," an omnichain network, a $10 million AI fund with Eliza Labs, and integration of portfolio tracker SonarWatch.

These updates position Jupiter as a multi-chain liquidity hub amid competition from projects like LayerZero. The immediate impact was a 40% surge in JUP's price, from $0.90 to $1.27, though it later stabilized around $1.06. By mid-2025, further unlocks introduced some supply pressure, but the reforms have bolstered community confidence.

Analysts view these changes as bullish signals for JUP's role in Solana's DeFi growth, with price predictions for end-2025 averaging $1.03, ranging from $0.44 to $1.40 .