Imagine: two giants of DeFi fighting for dominance in the world of perpetual futures. On one side – a veteran with a multi-billion TVL, on the other – a daring newcomer, backed by none other than CZ (Changpeng Zhao of Binance), who has soared by 350% in a week. Aster ($ASTER) against Hyperliquid ($HYPE). This is not just a comparison of tokens – it is a war for the future of decentralized derivatives. Who will come out on top? Let's find out, and I promise: by the end of the article, you will be itching to invest in the "right" champion.
Aster: A Newcomer with CZ's Army – Explosive Growth and Airdrop Magic
$ASTER – this is not just a token, it's a revolutionary perp DEX launched in September 2025. Imagine a platform where you can trade futures with leverage up to 1000x, focusing on privacy and multi-chain support. Total supply – 8 billion tokens, of which 53.5% went to the community through airdrops and incentives. This is no coincidence: CZ, a crypto legend, stands behind the project, and many see Aster as the "Binance for DeFi".
What makes Aster so hyped? In a week, TVL soared to $1.4 billion – that's 10 times faster than Hyperliquid at launch. Revenue? $6 million per day, surpassing HYPE in the 24-hour chart. The price of ASTER started at $0.5 and is already testing $2.10, with a wild forecast by the end of 2025. Plus, the listing $HYPE on Aster with 300x leverage – it's like a challenge: "Come, let's dance!" The community is ecstatic: tweets about "CZ's revenge" and memes about how Aster is "killing" competitors.
But there are risks: a newcomer, dependence on CZ's marketing. If the hype dies down, what next? For now – pure fire.
Hype: King of Stability – Hyperliquid and Its Scarcity Empire
Hyperliquid $HYPE – this is the O.G. perp DEX on a custom Layer-1, launched a year ago. TVL $2.3 billion, market cap $16.19 billion – numbers that scream dominance. The HYPE token has a scarcity model: buybacks from the treasury, no hard cap, and focus on scarcity. The price is now around $44.74, with an ATH of $51 in August, and forecasts up to $83 by February 2026. But here's the catch: unlocks of $500M monthly starting November 2025 – this puts pressure on the price, and Arthur Hayes has already warned: "Too much supply, little demand."
Advantages of HYPE? Stability and organic community. No VC backing, pure decentralization, 300+ markets with 40x leverage. Revenue is solid, but Aster is already breathing down its neck. Listing $Aster Hyperliquid with only 3x? It's like saying: "We are not afraid, but cautious". Veterans like Hayes see 126x potential in HYPE, but the current downtrend (-3% for the day) is a warning signal.
HYPE is a tank: reliable, but slow. The question: will it withstand the hurricane from CZ?
Comparison: Who is Stronger in the Ring? TVL, Tokenomics, and Community Battle
Let's break it down – like in a boxing match:
- TVL and Revenue: Aster – $1.4B TVL in a week vs $2.3B in a year for HYPE. Aster Revenue: $6M/day, surpassed HYPE. Winner: Aster (for now). But HYPE has a $13.2B market cap – that's a base for growth.
- Tokenomics: ASTER – 53.5% community, airdrop-driven, inflationary growth. HYPE – scarce, buybacks cover 17% of unlocks, but pressure from $11.9B unlocks. Winner: HYPE for scarcity, but Aster for incentives.
- Community and Hype: Twitter is on fire – #AsterVsHype is trending, memes about "CZ cackling" and whales migrating from HYPE to ASTER. HYPE has loyal fans, but Aster is a marketing machine. Winner: Aster, pure FOMO.
- Risks: For Aster – over-hype and regulation (CZ's shadow). For HYPE – unlocks and competition. Both – high-risk/high-reward.
In the end: Aster is a sprinter, HYPE is a marathon runner. But in crypto, sprinters often win.
Who Will Win? My Verdict: Aster Will Take the Crown (But Not Without Blood)
2025 – the year of DeFi wars, and Aster looks like a killer. With CZ behind it, a 430% pump and revenue that breaks records, this is not just a token – it's a Trojan horse against centralized exchanges. Forecasts: ASTER - X000.... by 2030, if adoption skyrockets. HYPE is stable, but unlocks will break momentum – Hayes has already dumped.
Verdict: Aster wins. Why? Because crypto loves underdogs with billionaire backing.