In a dual-pronged strategy to enhance token value and drive platform engagement, decentralized perpetual futures exchange Aster has announced a major Stage 5 token buyback program and a massive $12 million futures trading competition.
The Aster Stage 5 buyback initiative is set to commence on December 23. According to the official announcement, the exchange will allocate up to 80% of its daily trading fees specifically for buying back ASTER tokens from the open market. This aggressive repurchase strategy aims to reduce the circulating supply of ASTER tokens, creating deflationary pressure and directly returning value to token holders. The program represents the fifth phase of Aster's ongoing token repurchase strategy, with all transactions being verifiable on-chain for transparency.
Simultaneously, Aster has unveiled the 'Crystal Weekly Drops' futures trading competition, featuring a staggering $12 million total prize pool distributed over six weeks. The first phase runs from December 22 to December 28, with a prize pool of up to 2 million USDF. To qualify, participants must meet specific criteria: hold a minimum of 444 ASTER tokens in a connected wallet, trade for over six days during the phase, and maintain a position size exceeding $30,000 in ASTER, BNB, or HYPE tokens. The prize money for each phase will be distributed equally among all qualifying traders.
The buyback program is framed as a strategic move to strengthen market fundamentals and demonstrate management's confidence in the native asset. By linking platform success directly to token holder rewards, Aster aims to create stronger alignment between its users and developers. The timing of these announcements, just before the holiday season, suggests a strategic effort to maintain market momentum during typically slower trading periods.
While the buyback can support token value through supply reduction, its success is contingent on sustained trading volume and fee generation on the platform. The trading competition is explicitly geared toward experienced traders with significant capital, given the high minimum position size and the inherent risks of perpetual futures trading.
