Aster’s token debut is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about events in the 2025 crypto calendar. Launched Sept. 17 at a TGE price of just over two cents, $ASTER surged by almost 7,000% in less than four days, peaking at around $2 before cooling off. Trading data shows that more than $2.9 billion worth of tokens changed hands as speculators rushed in, chasing what some are already calling the next BNB-like success story. This comparison is no coincidence. Aster is a decentralized perpetual exchange incubated by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), with Binance founder CZ personally amplifying its launch. Within days, his feed had become an Aster/BNB echo chamber, with nods to both projects as twin pillars of the next cycle. My entire feed: Aster, BNB, Aster, BNB, Aster... 😆Hard change of topic: @GiggleAcademy has more than 2000 free story books, each available in 30+ languages. Arabic UI coming soon.Crypto goes up, free education goes up. https://t.co/P06XDG4Lek — CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) September 21, 2025 This level of visible support is unusual for CZ, who has mostly distanced himself from new tokens, which only fuels speculation that Aster might be positioned as "BNB 2.0" in narrative terms. ASTER tokenomics explained Beneath the hype, the fundamentals appear designed for long-term popularity. The tokenomics outline an 8 billion total supply, with 53.5% allocated to community programs. Around 704 million tokens were unlocked at TGE, while the rest will vest over seven years. Airdrops were directed at early program participants and loyalty earners, creating a strong grassroots base. The DEX itself sets itself apart with its hidden orders designed to prevent frontrunning. The timing could not have been more precise: ASTER's breakthrough occurred as BNB surpassed its all-time high of over $1,000, triggering a reflexive FOMO loop throughout the Binance-linked ecosystem. For a long time, Hyperliquid dominated the perpetual swap narrative almost uncontested. Now, Aster’s sudden rise is forcing a reevaluation of not just perpetual trading venues, but also the scale at which founder-backed ecosystems can create outsized winners.