On November 2, 2025, the ASTER token experienced a dramatic price surge of 20-35%, catapulting its value from approximately $0.91 to a peak of $1.26. This rally was directly triggered by a single, powerful event: Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s public disclosure that he had personally purchased over 2 million ASTER tokens, a stake worth roughly $2 million.
CZ’s announcement on social media, where he emphasized his long-term “buy and hold” strategy, acted as a powerful endorsement. The market’s reaction was swift and intense. Trading volume for ASTER skyrocketed, exploding from around $224 million to over $2 billion in 24 hours as traders rushed to follow the influential figure’s move. The token’s market capitalization also saw a significant boost, rising to over $2.5 billion.
ASTER’s Position in the Crypto Landscape
ASTER is the native token of a decentralized exchange (DEX) that offers perpetual and spot trading. The project is the result of a merger between Astherus and APX Finance and has received support from CZ’s family office, YZi Labs. Prior to this recent surge, the project had already made headlines. Shortly after its launch in September 2025, the token’s price skyrocketed by an astonishing 1,500% following CZ’s public praise, cementing its reputation as a volatile and high-profile asset.
Despite the current optimism, the rally has not convinced everyone. On-chain data revealed that at least two large-scale traders, or “whales”, began taking substantial short positions against ASTER, betting millions that its price would fall. This highlights a clear division in market sentiment, where CZ’s vote of confidence is balanced against concerns about the token’s ability to sustain these price levels.
For traders and investors, this event is a potent reminder of the “CZ Effect” – the significant market impact that influential figures can have on token prices. While such endorsements can create powerful short-term momentum, they also introduce volatility and narrative-driven risk. The future price of ASTER will ultimately depend on its ability to translate this hype into sustained platform growth and user adoption, proving its fundamental value beyond a single influential purchase.
