What is Aster?
#4Aster is a privacy-focused decentralized exchange (DEX) specializing in perpetual futures, spot trading, and yield-bearing DeFi products. The platform emerged from a merger between APX Finance (formerly ApolloX) and Astherus, officially rebranding to Aster on March 31, 2025. Aster operates on Aster Chain, a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain using a Proof-of-Staked Authority (PoSA) consensus mechanism capable of up to 100,000 transactions per second with 50ms block latency. A standout privacy feature is ZK-verifiable encrypted orders combined with a stealth address mechanism — trader positions and liquidation levels remain completely private from other market participants. The exchange supports a broad range of networks including BNB Chain, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, Manta, Base, opBNB, ZKsync Era, and Scroll. Products include orderbook-based perpetuals and spot trading, "Shield Mode" (AMM-style trading), "1001x" leverage trading, and the USDF yield-bearing stablecoin. As of 2026, Aster has accumulated over $1.2 trillion in cumulative perpetual trading volume and maintains approximately $898 million in Total Value Locked (TVL). The platform is backed by YZi Labs and has received public endorsement from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). The native ASTER token replaced the former APX token via a 1:1 swap and governs the protocol.
Live Statistics
24h Volume
$1.16B
-32.00%7d Volume
$11.93B
-35.37%30d Volume
$36.47B
+7.74%Open Interest
$1.98B
Market Share
6.16%
Markets
456
Weekly Visits
152,985
Rank
#4
How does Aster work?
Aster operates a decentralized order book, matching buy and sell orders placed by traders. Unlike AMMs, this model allows limit orders, stop-losses, and precise price control. Orders may be settled fully on-chain for maximum trustlessness, or via a hybrid system where order matching happens off-chain for speed while settlement remains on-chain for security. This architecture is particularly suited for derivatives and perpetual futures trading.
Key Features
Non-Custodial
You control your private keys. Funds never leave your wallet until a trade is executed on-chain.
Order Book Architecture
Central limit order book enables limit orders, stop-losses, and tighter spreads for professional traders.
1 Network
Available on Multi-chain.
Transparent Fees
Maker: 2.000% · Taker: 7.000%. All fees are visible on-chain.
456 Markets
Aster offers 456 trading markets across derivatives instruments.
Open Access
No KYC required. Connect any compatible wallet and start trading immediately from any jurisdiction.
Open Interest — 30-Day History
Avg OI (30d)
$1.982B
Peak OI (30d)
$2.008B
Low OI (30d)
$1.972B
Daily open interest over the last 30 days · Aster
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aster?
Aster is a privacy-focused decentralized exchange (DEX) specializing in perpetual futures, spot trading, and yield-bearing DeFi products. The platform emerged from a merger between APX Finance (formerly ApolloX) and Astherus, officially rebranding to Aster on March 31, 2025. Aster operates on Aster Chain, a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain using a Proof-of-Staked Authority (PoSA) consensus mechanism capable of up to 100,000 transactions per second with 50ms block latency. A standout privacy feature is ZK-verifiable encrypted orders combined with a stealth address mechanism — trader positions and liquidation levels remain completely private from other market participants. The exchange supports a broad range of networks including BNB Chain, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, Manta, Base, opBNB, ZKsync Era, and Scroll. Products include orderbook-based perpetuals and spot trading, "Shield Mode" (AMM-style trading), "1001x" leverage trading, and the USDF yield-bearing stablecoin. As of 2026, Aster has accumulated over $1.2 trillion in cumulative perpetual trading volume and maintains approximately $898 million in Total Value Locked (TVL). The platform is backed by YZi Labs and has received public endorsement from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). The native ASTER token replaced the former APX token via a 1:1 swap and governs the protocol.
How does Aster work?
Aster operates a decentralized order book where traders place buy and sell orders that are matched on-chain or via a hybrid off-chain/on-chain system. This allows for precise limit orders and tighter spreads similar to centralized exchanges.
What are the trading fees on Aster?
Aster charges a maker fee of 2.000% and a taker fee of 7.000%. Fee structures may vary by trading pair, volume tier, or token holdings.
Is Aster safe to use?
Aster is a non-custodial decentralized exchange, meaning users retain control of their private keys and funds at all times. Smart contract risk is inherent in all DeFi protocols — always review audits and use appropriate position sizes.
Which blockchains does Aster support?
Aster operates on Multi-chain. Multi-chain support allows users to trade assets native to each supported chain without bridging.
When was Aster launched?
Aster was launched in 2021. Since then it has grown to offer 456 trading markets with $1.16B in 24-hour trading volume.
