ASTER, the native token of a decentralized exchange specializing in high-frequency perpetuals trading, has experienced a meteoric 7,000% price surge following its recent listing. The dramatic rally has drawn significant attention, particularly after an endorsement from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who publicly acknowledged the project. However, the explosive gains have been shadowed by serious allegations of market manipulation and centralization risks. On-chain analysts report that just six wallets control over 96% of the total ASTER token supply, raising concerns about potential price manipulation and insufficient decentralization. Critics argue that such concentrated ownership allows a small group of holders to exert disproportionate influence over the token’s liquidity and valuation. The project team has yet to issue an official statement addressing these claims. Despite the controversy, trading volumes remain elevated as market participants weigh the implications of CZ’s support against the risks of supply centralization. The situation underscores ongoing tensions in decentralized finance between growth potential and foundational integrity.
