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Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and MrBeast have invested over $3.4 million in Aster tokens. But on-chain data shows potential red flags including massive token unlocks and possible wash trading.
CZ and MrBeast Go All-In on Aster
On November 2, 2025, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) purchased 290,000 Aster tokens for $1.9 million, entering at $91 per token. CZ publicly described it as a “buy and hold” investment — drawing parallels to his early BNB purchase eight years ago that made him billions.
Meanwhile, YouTuber MrBeast reportedly bought 950,000 Aster tokens back in September 2025 for $1.53 million, with an average entry between $161 and $187. At the current price of $123, he’s sitting on a paper loss.
What Is Aster?
Aster is a decentralized exchange (DEX) token launched in September 2025, backed by Binance Labs and already listed on Binance.
Its main competitor, Hyperlid, boasts a $12 billion market cap, compared to Aster’s $2.5 billion. Despite this gap, Aster’s daily trading volume of $41.78 billion is ten times higher than Hyperlid’s — a statistic raising eyebrows over possible wash trading activity.
Tokenomics and Potential Sell Pressure
Aster’s total supply is capped at 8 billion tokens, with only 2 billion currently circulating (25%). An upcoming 800 million token unlock poses a major risk, potentially flooding the market and triggering a price drop.
Analysts warn that if the unlock sparks panic selling, prices could fall to $0.67–$0.95, representing a 28% decline from current levels.
Price Scenarios
- Bearish Case: $0.67–$0.95 if unlock pressure hits.
- Base Case: $1.50–$1.88 by Q2 2026, assuming steady adoption.
- Bullish Case: $2.20–$4.73 if Aster captures 30% of the DEX market, mirroring CZ’s BNB trajectory — a potential 285% upside.
If Aster achieves even 10% of Hyperlid’s market share, analysts estimate its market cap could rise to $3–$3.76 billion, translating to a 53% gain from current levels.
Final Verdict
While the involvement of CZ and MrBeast has fueled massive hype, Aster remains a high-risk speculative asset. The project is only two months old, faces extreme volatility, and is approaching a major token unlock.
Data-driven verdict:
Limit exposure to 2–3% of your portfolio and set a stop loss around $0.65. This is not a guaranteed moonshot — it’s a calculated bet on CZ’s history and Aster’s growth potential in the DEX market.
