ASTER Drops By 12% To Hit All Time Low

The buyback program allocates between 20% and 40% of daily platform fees into automated purchases, with a portion executed directly from the protocol’s reserve wallet.

Aster Buyback Framework

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Although Aster first announced this framework in December 2025, the team only began active deployment after the token’s recent slide. According to protocol documents, the plan combines two tracks: daily automated repurchases and dynamic buybacks based on market volatility. Aster is now swapping platform revenue (e.g., BNB) for ASTER, boosting its reserves and aiming to reduce circulating supply.

Yet despite the launch of buybacks, ASTER continues to face strong sell pressure. The token is now down over 28% from its launch and nearly 75% below its all-time high. It recently fell into the ‘sell’ zone on sentiment indicators and traded as low as $0.53 during intraday volatility.

One major source of bearish pressure is the upcoming token unlock in February 2026. A total of 96 million ASTER tokens are set to enter circulation. This adds to ongoing quarterly unlocks that will continue until 2035. Community members have called for buybacked tokens to be burned, but the team has yet to commit to any destruction mechanism—tokens remain in the treasury.

DEX Token Market Slips

Compounding the challenge is a weak broader market. DEX tokens like HYPE and LIT have also slipped, and ASTER open interest has dropped near all-time lows, currently at $215M. With limited short interest (~25% of OI), a short squeeze is unlikely, and trading volumes remain muted at $283M in the last 24 hours.

Despite Aster’s revenue-backed buybacks, the protocol still lags behind larger competitors like Hyperliquid and Lighter. Some traders may look to “buy the dip,” but risk remains high. With whales realizing profits and February’s unlock looming, Aster’s tokenomics are under pressure. Whether the Stage 5 buyback plan will meaningfully shift sentiment remains uncertain.

What To Watch For Next

Aster now enters a critical stretch. First, watch how aggressively the buybacks scale as daily fees fluctuate. If volumes stay thin, the impact may remain limited. Next, focus on the February token unlock. Nearly 96 million ASTER entering circulation could overwhelm treasury purchases if holders rush to exit.

At the same time, pay attention to any decision around burning repurchased tokens. Holding them in the treasury delays supply relief. Finally, monitor Aster’s trading activity versus competitors like Hyperliquid and Lighter. If volumes fail to rebound, sentiment could stay heavy even with fee-backed support in place.