The decentralized perpetuals exchange Aster is navigating a critical phase of its token distribution strategy, with its Phase 4 airdrop concluding and a new phase set to begin. The project's Phase 4 airdrop eligibility period officially ends at 11:59 p.m. UTC on December 21, 2025. This phase allocated 1.5% of the total ASTER token supply to community participants.
Following the snapshot, an airdrop checker will go live on January 14, 2026, allowing users to verify eligibility. The claim window then opens on January 28, 2026, presenting participants with a strategic choice. They can either claim 50% of their tokens immediately (with the remaining 50% being permanently burned) or wait for a three-month lock-up period ending in late April to claim 100% of their allocation.
Simultaneously, Aster has announced its fifth airdrop phase, dubbed 'Crystal', which is scheduled to commence on December 22, 2025. This new phase represents a strategic shift, featuring the smallest token allocation of any previous phase at 1.2% of the total supply, or approximately 96 million ASTER tokens. The Crystal airdrop will run for six weeks, concluding on February 1, 2026.
Tokens claimed from the Crystal phase will be subject to a three-month vesting period. The team stated this smaller allocation and vesting schedule are deliberate moves to tighten supply discipline and foster a more stable economic environment ahead of the project's anticipated mainnet launch.
