ASTER Below $1: Is Aster CEO’s New Roadmap Enough for a Revival?

Leonard, the CEO of Aster, gave an interview full of valuable insights into his transition from traditional finance to decentralized finance, Aster’s mission, its uniqueness, and its plans for the future of Web3. Aster CEO’s career began in traditional finance, where he worked in high-frequency trading and software development. He even started a P2P lending platform in China; however, after failing, he moved to crypto, where he first invested in ICOs and later joined Binance as an employee. It was after using Binance and other decentralized platforms such as Uniswap and dYdX that Leonard realized the potential of decentralized exchanges and went on to found Aster.

Aster CEO’s Strong Relationship with CZ and YZi Labs

A defining relationship for Leonard on his journey has been with Binance’s CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and YZi Labs, which has become one of Aster’s largest investors. Leonard shared his first experience meeting CZ when they worked together at Binance. The initial meetings revealed that Changpeng Zhao possessed strong rational qualities yet displayed emotional detachment and a sharp focus on results. In Leonard’s words, CZ stands as an extremely powerful leader. Leonard and CZ have remained close since their professional split, with CZ serving as a mentor to Leonard, particularly during periods of accelerated growth at Aster.

Chart 1: ASTER M15 chart, published on TradingView, December 1st, 2025.

Competing with HyperLiquid and Aster’s Unique Edge

When questioned about other competitors in the space of decentralized exchanges, such as HyperLiquid, Leonard responded that competing with others is not really Aster’s core approach. Aster’s main goal was to provide a unique product with key features, such as native multi-chain integration and close collaboration with other projects in the ecosystem. Aster CEO described the Aster trading platform as combining centralized exchange features such as spot market trading and stablecoin support with DeFi benefits, and enhancing this package with dedicated customer service.

The future roadmap for Aster includes developing a blockchain infrastructure that prioritizes privacy, enabling users to conceal their trading activities, unlike any other exchange. Leonard stressed the importance of privacy, as users increasingly expect their trades to remain private.

The Aster Token Airdrop Program and Future Roadmap

Aster CEO also took a moment to update viewers on Aster’s airdrop program, which is in its fourth and final phase. The airdrops are designed to maximize utility for Aster token holders, with the next airdrop being a reward for active community participation. The aim of the final phase is to incentivize users to be more active in the ecosystem.

The next steps on Aster’s roadmap involve three key pillars: expanding its infrastructure to facilitate decentralised trading, building out token utility, and developing privacy solutions. Leonard spoke about the imminent launch of the Aster Layer 1 blockchain and privacy features scheduled for early 2026. Aster also plans to increase the number of RWAs on its platform and integrate AI to make the trading experience more efficient.

Building Trust and Community Engagement

Leonard shared that Aster prioritizes building trust, security, and consistent execution to address DeFi users’ skepticism, especially in the wake of high-profile failures such as FTX. He pointed out that Aster is working to build trust with the community by keeping user interests first.

Aster CEO is optimistic about the long-term future of the DeFi space, with current strong projects expected to prevail despite the recent market correction. He stated that Bitcoin and other well-positioned projects with a clear path to positive cash flow will survive in the long term.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and risky. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.