VIRTUAL's popularity remains high, Aster launches 75x leverage contracts, and the 1.2x trading points reward is highly attractive

Aster launches VIRTUAL perpetual contracts today, supporting up to 75x leverage. At the same time, a trading incentive policy is introduced: from now until January 13th at 23:59 UTC, traders can earn 1.2x trading points. This move is part of Aster’s ongoing efforts to expand trading options and strengthen its market position. Notably, the VIRTUAL token has recently performed well, with a 62.17% increase over 7 days, and its market cap ranking has risen to 77th place.

VIRTUAL Token Fundamentals Are Positive

According to the latest data, VIRTUAL is currently priced at $1.10, up 5.54% in the past 24 hours. This increase may seem moderate, but over 7-day and 30-day periods, VIRTUAL’s performance is quite remarkable.

As a project launched in 2023 and officially trading since February 2024, VIRTUAL’s market cap has reached $722 million, ranking 77th among global cryptocurrencies. Its 24-hour trading volume is $367 million, indicating active ecosystem engagement. The circulating supply is 656 million tokens, accounting for 65.61% of the total supply, with a relatively balanced release schedule.

Aster’s Market Position Remains Steady

Based on the latest Perp DEX market data, Aster’s trading volume continues to lead. As of January 5, Aster’s 24-hour trading volume is approximately $3.88 billion, ranking first in the industry. This data reflects Aster’s advantages in user attraction and trading activity.

This comparison shows that the current Perp DEX market has formed a three-way competition among Hyperliquid, Aster, and Lighter. Although Aster’s TVL and open contracts are lower than Hyperliquid’s, its trading volume remains the highest, indicating it attracts more active traders rather than just traffic from subsidies.

The Appeal of the Trading Incentive Policy

Strong Leverage Competitiveness

Supporting up to 75x leverage is relatively high in the current Perp DEX market. This level of leverage is particularly attractive to traders seeking high risk and high reward, especially in volatile market conditions.

The Value of 1.2x Trading Points

The 1.2x trading points reward may seem simple, but in the context of increasingly fierce trading incentives, it is a relatively substantial policy. Trading points are often linked to token airdrops or other benefits, providing real value to participants. The one-week activity cycle offers traders ample opportunity to participate.

Market Significance Analysis

Product Expansion Is Inevitable

Aster’s launch of VIRTUAL contracts is a natural response to the rising popularity of VIRTUAL. This aligns with the fundamental logic of Perp DEX: tracking market hot spots and timely listing of new trading pairs.

Enhancing User Stickiness

For Aster, each new popular trading pair can attract holders and followers of that token. The recent strong performance of VIRTUAL (62% increase over 7 days) can channel enthusiastic traders into the Aster platform.

Reflection of Competitive Dynamics

This also highlights the fierce competition among Perp DEX platforms. Those who can list hot tokens faster will have an advantage in capturing trading flow.

Summary

Aster’s launch of VIRTUAL perpetual contracts is a seemingly routine but strategically meaningful move. It leverages VIRTUAL’s current market heat and enhances its appeal through a combination of 75x leverage and 1.2x trading points. From a broader perspective, this demonstrates Aster’s steady strategy as a leading Perp DEX: continuously optimizing products, expanding trading options, and consolidating market position. In the current top-tier Perp DEX landscape, Aster is gradually strengthening its core position through its trading volume and active user base.