Key notes
- The Rocket Launch initiative rewards traders with ASTER tokens and projects funded through buybacks and partner contributions.
- CZ’s pardon amplified bullish sentiment on tokens in the BNB ecosystem, particularly those he has publicly endorsed like Aster.
- The whale buildup caused prices to surge despite less retail participation, as indicated by falling trading volume during the recovery.
ASTER saw a sharp 15% rise on October 23, as its price rose from just under $1.00 to an intraday high of $1.11, propelling its market capitalization past $2.2 billion. The increase follows the official rollout of Aster’s highly anticipated Rocket Launch campaign, allowing users to get acquainted with early-stage crypto projects ahead of major stock market listings.
According to an official X thread, each Rocket Launch event includes a reward pool consisting of ASTER tokens and tokens native to the participating project. Projects joining the campaign contribute funds and tokens, which Aster uses for ASTER redemptions before merging the two assets into a rewards pool distributed to eligible traders.
Aster unveils Rocket Launch 🚀✨
Your gateway to early-stage crypto projects and trading rewards is here!Aster is proud to introduce Rocket Launch, designed to provide liquidity support to early-stage projects while giving users early access to emerging on-chain opportunities.… pic.twitter.com/cfkPYC1DtY
– Aster (@Aster_DEX) October 23, 2025
Participants can qualify by meeting campaign-specific trading requirements, such as maintaining the required ASTER balance in Spot and Perpetual accounts and achieving designated trading volume on supported pairs.
The team confirmed that winners will share $200,000 in ASTER rewards, strengthening community engagement and market participation.
CZ pardon intensifies buying pressure on Aster
Donald Trump’s presidential pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), confirmed shortly after Rocket’s launch campaign was announced, has intensified buying pressure on Aster. The announcement has reignited optimism in the crypto market, especially for exchange-related projects, with Aster being one of the most trending tokens within BNB.
BNB
$1,117
24h volatility:
5.1%
Market capitalization:
$155.48 billion
Flight. 24h:
$4.28 billion
ecosystem.
CZ has frequently praised Aster’s infrastructure in recent months, highlighting its advanced liquidity routing and hybrid DEX model in several X publications since its September launch. Its public endorsements and purported advisory participation have solidified the market perception of Aster as a next-generation DEX capable of bridging centralized and decentralized liquidity pools.
The twin tailwinds of the Rocket Launch campaign and CZ’s forgiveness created a perfect setup for bullish momentum, helping Aster regain its multi-week high above $1.10 and reaffirm investor confidence heading into the fourth quarter.
Aster Price Action, October 23, 2025 | Source: Coinmarketcap
Following the pardon announcement, market data trends revealed active whale involvement in the Aster rally. Notably, data from Coinmarketcap shows that Aster’s 15% price breakout on October 23 was accompanied by a 5% drop in trading volume. This indicates that the rally was primarily driven by large buy orders from a few whale participants, rather than retail market dynamics.
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Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article is intended to provide accurate and current information, but should not be considered financial or investment advice. Because market conditions can change quickly, we encourage you to verify the information for yourself and consult a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
Ibrahim Ajibade is a seasoned research analyst with experience supporting various Web3 startups and financial organizations. He completed his undergraduate degree in Economics and is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger technologies at the University of Malta.
Ibrahim Ajibade on LinkedIn
