Aster Stats: Volume, Fees & OI Data
Rating
Trading Info
Fee Comparison
Advantages
- Diverse asset coverage including forex and commodities alongside crypto
- High leverage up to 100x on supported pairs
- Active points program for early adopters
- Professional trading interface with advanced order types
Considerations
- Relatively new platform rebranded from Ostium
- Lower liquidity compared to top-tier protocols
- Limited ecosystem integrations so far
Aster Review 2026
Aster, formerly Ostium, is a decentralized perpetual exchange on Arbitrum that trades more than just crypto. The platform also lists forex currency pairs and commodity futures, so you can go long on crude oil or short EUR/USD without leaving the on-chain world. Not many DeFi venues offer that.
The platform uses oracle-based pricing rather than a traditional order book, which means prices are derived from off-chain data feeds rather than pure on-chain bid/ask flow. This lets Aster support a wide range of asset classes, including markets that would be difficult to bootstrap liquidity for through an order book model alone. The tradeoff is some dependence on oracle reliability and latency.
Aster charges 0.005% for makers and 0.04% for takers. The fee structure is competitive, with the taker fee in line with leading perp DEXes despite the oracle-based pricing model. With up to 100x leverage on supported pairs and approximately 50 markets available, the platform offers meaningful trading range for both casual and professional users.
The platform launched in March 2024 and has a Trail of Bits security audit, from a well-regarded firm in the smart contract auditing space. The rebrand from Ostium came with new features and expanded pair availability, suggesting ongoing development investment.
Aster runs an active points program that rewards traders and referrals with points that could convert to future token rewards. The 10% referral bonus provides a modest incentive for community-driven growth.
If you want forex or commodities on-chain, Aster is one of the few options. For pure crypto trading where depth matters most, the bigger protocols are still ahead.
Related Resources
Frederick Cormack
VC & Crypto Derivatives AnalystDerivatives analyst with 8+ years in crypto & venture capital. Tested every protocol on PerpFinder with real funds.
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our ratings or recommendations.
Risk Warning: Trading perpetual futures involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Only trade with funds you can afford to lose.
Key Features
Audits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum leverage on Aster?▾
Aster supports up to 100x leverage on perpetual futures. Maximum leverage varies by asset class — crypto pairs typically allow higher leverage than forex or commodity markets.
What are Aster trading fees?▾
Aster charges 0.5 basis points (0.005%) for makers and 4 basis points (0.04%) for takers. Users can reduce fees by 5% when paying with the $ASTER token. The fee structure is competitive with leading perp DEXes.
What types of assets can I trade on Aster?▾
Aster lists around 50 markets spanning crypto perpetuals, forex currency pairs, and commodity futures. This makes it one of the few DeFi platforms where you can go long oil or short EUR/USD alongside standard crypto pairs.
Has Aster been audited?▾
Aster has been audited by Trail of Bits, one of the most respected smart contract security firms in the industry. The audit was conducted after the rebrand from Ostium, covering the current protocol architecture.
How does the Aster referral program work?▾
Using referral code 9D087C earns a 10% point bonus on all referred trading activity. Points accumulate toward potential future token rewards, making referrals valuable for both direct rewards and long-term upside.
Why is Aster built on Arbitrum?▾
Arbitrum provides the low gas costs and fast finality needed for an oracle-based perp exchange to function efficiently. The Arbitrum DeFi ecosystem also provides access to professional market makers and deep liquidity infrastructure.
Does Aster have a points program?▾
Yes. Aster runs an active points program rewarding traders based on volume, open interest, and referral activity. Points may convert to future token rewards as the protocol continues to develop its tokenomics.
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Visit Aster — 10% fee discountTrading perpetual futures carries significant risk, including potential total loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results.