Aster DEX review
Live Aster stats updated every minute: 24h volume, open interest, fees (0% maker / 0.040% taker), and up to 200x leverage across 583+ pairs on multiple chains.
At a glance
- Measured cost rank
- Rank 10 of 39, 4.01 bps$10,000 BTC market buy, measured October 3, 2026, 12:55 UTC. Full ranking
- Fees, base tier
- 0% maker, 0.040% takerSource, read 2026-09-23
- Maximum leverage
- 200x on BTC up to a $400 position; 150x up to $300,000Source, read 2026-09-23
- Chain and settlement
- Own layer 1 (Aster Chain); bridges from BNB Chain, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, SUISource, read 2026-09-23
- Custody of funds
- Aster validators sign deposits and withdrawals; no forced withdrawal describedSource, read 2026-09-23
- Funding interval
- 8 hours by default, set per pairSource, read 2026-09-23
- Audits named in official docs
- Salus Security (deposit vault, earn contract, asBNB, asCAKE), PeckShield (asBNB, USDF), Halborn (USDF, asUSDF)Source, read 2026-09-23
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-23
Verdict
7.5/10 · how we rankRanked #3 of 84 DefiLlama-listed perp DEXes by 24h volume (11% share, 2026-10-03 snapshot). Taker fee 0.04% is in line with the DEX median of 0.04%.
Advantages
- The General crypto tier has a 0% maker fee and a 0.04% taker fee
- The public API listed 583 perpetual contracts on September 23, 2026
- The docs publish the default funding interval and the funding formula
- The audit page links seven reports with their dates
Considerations
- Aster runs all the validators that approve withdrawals in Phase 1
- The docs describe no forced withdrawal path
- No listed audit names the Aster Chain clearinghouse or the current deposit bridge
- Aster can change the funding floor, cap, and interval without notice
Last editorial review 2026-09-23 · live protocol stats refresh every minute — rating is our editorial assessment, not an objective fact.
- Markets
- 583+ pairs
- Launch date
- 2025-03
Aster — volume and open interest
Venue terms from the registry. Daily volume series since 2026-06-05; latest observed day 2026-10-03.
Aster is a perp DEX on its own layer 1, Aster Chain. Its fee page lists 0% maker and 0.04% taker fees for general crypto markets. The BTC perp allows up to 200x on a small position. Aster runs the validators that approve withdrawals. Airdrop & points program
Market share by 24h volume
- Hyperliquid Perps26.8%
- Variational17.5%
- Aster Perps10.8%
- Lighter Perps6.5%
- GMX Solana6.3%
- Other ranked venues32.2%
Share of reported 24h volume across the 84 ranked DefiLlama-listed perp DEXes in the 2026-10-03 snapshot. Browse DefiLlama-listed perp DEXes
PerpFinder may earn a commission from this link. You can lose all your money on perp trades. Details
Live figures
- Volume 24h
- —
- Volume 7d
- —
- Volume 30d
- —
- Volume 1y
- —
- Volume all-time
- —
- Fees 24h
- —
- Fees 7d
- —
- Fees 30d
- —
- Fees 1y
- —
- Fees all-time
- —
- Open interest
- —
Taker fee vs other perp DEXes
Show all 36 venues▾
Published base-tier rates from each venue's fee page. A negative maker fee is a rebate. Volume tiers, referral discounts and token holdings can lower what you pay.
Rating breakdown
Key features
Who can use Aster perps
Each answer comes from the Aster terms or help pages, or from a regulator register. Each source shows the date that we opened it. See all venues in the perps by country matrix.
- United StatesNot available
Aster names the United States of America as a Prohibited Jurisdiction.
- United KingdomNot available
Aster names the United Kingdom as a Prohibited Jurisdiction.
- EU and EEANot named
The terms name European Union sanctions lists but do not name any European Union or European Economic Area state as a Prohibited Jurisdiction.
Regulator entry (AMF (France), 2026-02-27): The AMF puts asterdex.com on its blacklist in the category for crypto-asset derivatives.
- CanadaNot available
Aster names Canada as a Prohibited Jurisdiction.
- AustraliaNot named
The terms do not name Australia. No Aster page states a perpetual futures service for Australian users.
- SingaporeNot named
The terms do not name Singapore. No Aster page states a perpetual futures service for Singapore users.
- NorwayNot named
The terms do not name Norway or the European Economic Area. No Aster page states a perpetual futures service for Norwegian users.
Identity check: Not stated. Aster terms permit identity checks for compliance but do not state whether they are mandatory.
This page is not legal advice. It repeats what each venue and regulator publish on the checked date. Read the current terms and ask a qualified adviser before you trade.
SourcesTerms, help pages and regulator registers
- United States: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- United Kingdom: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- EU and EEA: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- Canada: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- Australia: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- Singapore: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- Norway: Aster Terms and Conditions, restricted-jurisdictions clause (checked 2026-09-23)
- Regulator entries: AMF blacklists, open data file on data.gouv.fr (checked 2026-09-25)
- Identity check: Aster Terms and Conditions, section 2.3 (checked 2026-09-25)
Aster review 2026
What Aster is and how it settles
Aster is a decentralized exchange (DEX) for perpetual futures contracts (perps). Aster formed when Astherus and APX Finance merged, and it launched under the Aster name on March 31, 2025.
The Aster Chain overview describes Aster Chain as "a high-performance, privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for derivatives trading." Order matching and the clearinghouse run on this chain. The roadmap gives March 16, 2026, as the launch date of Aster Chain.
A trader deposits through a bridge from BNB Chain, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana or SUI. The overview says that the core chain contracts are not open source at this time. The separate 1001x mode trades from the wallet on BNB Chain and Arbitrum, without a deposit.
Audits
Aster's audit page links seven reports:
- Salus Security (September 2024): the AstherusVault deposit vault and the Astherus Earn contract.
- Salus Security (December 2024): asBNB and asCAKE.
- PeckShield (December 2024): asBNB Earn and USDF Earn.
- Halborn (April 2025): USDF and asUSDF.
The vault report describes withdrawals that an operator signer approves. An admin role can pause withdrawals in that vault. The docs do not say whether this vault is the current deposit bridge.
No listed report names the Aster Chain clearinghouse. An audit covers a stated scope at a stated time. It does not remove all smart contract risk.
Security incident
On September 25, 2025, Aster reported abnormal price movements on the XPL perpetual pair. Aster said that user funds were safe. On September 26, 2025, Aster said that it had paid compensation in full in USDT. Aster gave no cause or loss amount in these posts.
Main risks
- Validator control: Aster runs the validators that approve withdrawals in Phase 1.
- Exit path: the docs describe no forced withdrawal path.
- Audit gap: no listed report names the chain clearinghouse or the current bridge.
- Funding terms: Aster can change the funding floor, cap and interval without notice.
- Leverage risk: at high leverage, a small price move can cause liquidation.
Fees
Aster's fee page lists a General tier for crypto markets. That tier has a 0% maker fee and a 0.04% taker fee. On a $10,000 taker order, 0.04% is $4. A Crypto Group B tier has a higher taker fee.
The docs show no separate rate for API orders. The Perpetuals overview page still shows an older, different fee pair, so check the fee page.
The 1001x mode has its own open and close fees. Trading fees are only one part of the cost. Funding, spread, and price impact also add cost. Use the fee calculator to compare trading fees across venues. The cost ranking shows measured order costs.
Leverage and markets
The public leverage bracket data behind the Aster trading rules page shows the BTCUSDT limits. The limit is 200x up to a $400 position, 150x up to $300,000 and 100x up to $800,000. Larger positions get lower limits. Each asset has its own brackets, so check the contract before you open a position.
The 1001x mode lists up to 1001x for BTC/USD. This mode is a separate product with its own fees. High leverage increases liquidation risk on any venue. On September 23, 2026, the public API listed 583 perpetual contracts in trading.
Funding
The funding rate page sets a default interval of 8 hours. The interval can be different for each pair. The public API showed an 8-hour interval for BTCUSDT, with a cap of plus or minus 0.3% for each interval. Aster reserves the right to change the floor, the cap, and the interval without notice.
A change to the interval changes how often funding payments occur. Check the pair in the app before you hold a position for a long time. The funding rate tool shows current rates across venues.
Custody and exit path
The Aster Chain overview says that traders "retain full custody" of their assets. The same page says that 3 of 4 validator nodes must verify a deposit. A withdrawal needs 2 of 3 validator nodes. During Phase 1, external validators cannot take part, so Aster runs the validators that approve withdrawals.
The docs do not describe a forced withdrawal path if the validators stop. The terms say that Aster provides no custodial services. Read these terms before you deposit a large amount.
Who Aster may fit
Aster may fit traders who want a 0% maker fee and a wide list of markets. These traders must accept that Aster controls the withdrawal validators today. Compare the design with Lighter, Hyperliquid, or other venues on the compare page.
Before a trade, check the fee tier, the leverage bracket, and the funding interval in the live app. These terms can change at any time.
Frequently asked questions
How much leverage does Aster offer?
The public bracket data shows 200x for BTCUSDT up to a $400 position, 150x up to $300,000 and 100x up to $800,000.
The separate 1001x mode lists up to 1001x for BTC/USD. Check the contract in the Aster app before you open a position.
What are Aster trading fees?
The General crypto tier has a 0% maker fee and a 0.04% taker fee.
A Crypto Group B tier has a higher taker fee. Funding, spread, and price impact are separate costs.
Has Aster been audited?
The audit page links seven reports from Salus Security, PeckShield and Halborn.
They cover the AstherusVault deposit vault, the Astherus Earn contract, asBNB, asCAKE, USDF and asUSDF. No listed report names the Aster Chain clearinghouse.
Which networks does Aster support?
Pro trades settle on Aster Chain, the Aster layer 1.
Deposits come through bridges from BNB Chain, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana and SUI. The 1001x mode trades on BNB Chain and Arbitrum.
How often does Aster charge funding?
The default funding interval is 8 hours, but it can be different for each pair.
The BTCUSDT cap is plus or minus 0.3% for each interval. Aster can change the floor, the cap, and the interval without notice.
Who holds trader funds on Aster?
The docs say that traders keep custody.
Aster validators sign each deposit and withdrawal, and only Aster runs validators in Phase 1. The docs describe no forced withdrawal path.
Trade on Aster
Sign up through our link for: 10% fee discount via code 9D087C.