Aster News Today: Transparent Token Unlocks Fuel 9% Surge for Aster, $1.38 Target in Focus

ASTER (ASTER) jumped more than 9% within a day, lifting its market cap to $3.272 billion, as renewed investor trust and recent strategic moves from the decentralized exchange (DEX) project sparked fresh optimism. The price surge came after a period of uncertainty about postponed token unlocks, which was clarified by the team confirming that its tokenomics remain unchanged,

and .

The rally was initially triggered by a CoinMarketCap (CMC) update that incorrectly listed token unlock dates, shifting some from 2025 to 2035. This led to concerns about possible dilution, but

promptly refuted any alterations to its tokenomics, for greater transparency. The team clarified that the planned monthly unlocks had not occurred due to no immediate need for the tokens, so they remain locked and unissued .

Market conditions further fueled the upward movement. , approaching Hyperliquid's $3.2 trillion milestone, while its price held steady above $1.14 after an early sell-off. : although protocol fees remained under $20 million, open interest (OI) fell to $2.67 billion from $5.01 billion since mid-October, indicating traders were more cautious. Still, bullish traders aimed for a breakout above $1.21, with technical analysis pointing to a possible rise toward $1.38 if major resistance levels are maintained .

The rally gained further traction after Binance co-founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao revealed he holds over $2.5 million worth of ASTER.

, boosting short-term buying interest. At the same time, , with $10 million in rewards, added to the market excitement.

Experts observed that the rally aligned with a broader wave of on-chain optimism.

, and its fully diluted valuation (FDV) climbed above $9 billion, showing a premium compared to its current $3.28 billion market cap. Nevertheless, : a drop in user activity and lower protocol fees since mid-October have raised concerns about long-term growth.

Looking forward, bulls are watching the $1.26 level as a key test, with a close above it possibly opening the way to $1.38 and higher

. "Investors are wagering on Aster's ability to stay competitive with rivals like Hyperliquid," one analyst commented, but also could revive bearish momentum.