Aster DEX adds ASTER as trading collateral —Days after CZ’s $2M buy

Key Takeaways

What utility did Aster DEX add for ASTER token holders?

ASTER can now be used as collateral for perpetual trading.

How does this relate to CZ’s recent purchase?

Binance founder CZ publicly bought $2 million worth of ASTER on 2 November, sending the price up 30%. The utility announcement came just three days later.

Aster DEX announced a major utility upgrade on 5 November, enabling its native ASTER token as collateral for perpetual trading with an 80% margin ratio. 

Traders can now use the token to secure leveraged positions and receive a 5% discount on trading fees, creating immediate practical value for token holders.

Source: X

The announcement transforms ASTER from a speculative asset into functional infrastructure for the privacy-focused decentralized exchange. 

Users deposit the token on BNB Chain to access margin trading, with the platform accepting it at 80% loan-to-value.

This relatively safe collateral ratio protects against liquidations while enabling meaningful leverage.

Strategic timing after CZ’s post

The utility rollout comes just three days after Binance founder Changpeng Zhao [CZ] dropped a bombshell on 2 November. He publicly disclosed purchasing approximately 2.09 million ASTER tokens worth $2 million.

CZ’s post sent shockwaves through crypto markets. ASTER surged over 30% in minutes, climbing from $0.91 to $1.25.

Trading volume exploded 800% to $2 billion in 24 hours. Total value locked on the DEX hit $1 billion as traders rushed to the platform.

The proximity between CZ’s purchase and today’s utility announcement raises questions about timing. Did CZ know about the upcoming collateral feature? Or did the token accelerate development to capitalize on sudden attention? 

Either way, the utility upgrade validates his “buy and hold” thesis with fundamental value creation.

What this means for Aster’s demand

The collateral feature creates two forms of buying pressure. First, traders using ASTER as margin must hold it continuously, reducing circulating supply. 

An 80% margin ratio means that $1 million in ASTER collateral enables $800,000 in trading power, which is attractive for active traders.

Second, the 5% fee discount incentivizes holding the token even without using collateral features. On a platform targeting high-volume traders, 5% savings compounds quickly.

The discount mechanism likely requires holding ASTER in wallets, further locking supply.

The bigger picture for Aster

Aster launched 17 September 2025, from the merger of Astherus [multi-asset liquidity hub] and APX Finance [perpetual trading protocol with $500 billion historical volume]. 

The platform focuses on privacy-enhanced trading, building the Aster Chain. This Layer-1 blockchain utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to prevent front-running, with a planned launch in Q1 2026.

CZ’s track record backing Bitcoin and BNB adds credibility. His rare public post about a specific token might suggest conviction in Aster’s potential. 

Today’s utility announcement transforms that speculation into measurable value, giving traders concrete reasons to acquire and hold ASTER beyond price appreciation bets.