Written by: 1912212.eth, Foresight News
On May 15, the cryptocurrency data platform CoinMarketCap (CMC) launched its new feature - CMC Launch. Its first project is Aster (AST). As a data platform, this is a significant move in recent times, so what is the meaning and thought behind it? What highlights does Aster have to become the first project to launch?
CoinMarketCap's newly launched Launch is similar to the task platform Galxe, filtering some quality projects to provide them with a display platform. Users can directly click the link on the CMC official website to participate in task activities (such as following Twitter accounts, trading interactions, etc.) to earn points and subsequently receive guaranteed airdrops from projects.
It is worth noting that CoinMarketCap officially reminds that its task activities are operated by third parties. It does not take responsibility for any tasks or rewards and has no control over them.
Since its establishment in 2013, CoinMarketCap has become one of the mainstream data platforms in the cryptocurrency field, with over tens of millions of monthly active users and page views exceeding 800 million at one point. However, with the rapid development of the crypto market, industry competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and the functional boundaries of data platforms are being redefined.
The number of crypto projects is exploding, with thousands of new tokens added in 2024 alone. New projects face significant challenges in gaining visibility and user acquisition in a crowded market. Meanwhile, competitors like Pump.fun, PancakeSwap's SpringBoard, and Raydium's LaunchLab are also providing exposure opportunities for early projects through Launchpool or similar mechanisms. Following the sustained market attention on Binance Alpha, the demand for project exposure has surged, and CoinMarketCap's launch of CMC Launch is not only a response to market demand but also an important step in seeking differentiation in competition.
Furthermore, as the crypto market matures, investors and users are increasingly focused on early projects (Pre-TGE, before the token generation event). Early projects attract a large number of users seeking the 'next big thing' due to their high potential and high risk. CoinMarketCap provides a high-visibility platform for quality early projects through CMC Launch, while also offering users opportunities to participate in airdrops and interactive tasks to enhance community engagement.
In the past, due to various project parties hiding tricks in airdrops, some promised distributions were not made, and rules were suddenly changed, eliminating many users, or even refusing to distribute airdrops for various reasons. CoinMarketCap, as a platform party, essentially guarantees the airdrop rules with its brand. In the long run, this is undoubtedly a new attempt at win-win cooperation for CoinMarketCap itself, high-quality project parties, and retail investors.
The transformation of data platforms into ecosystem builders is not unique to CoinMarketCap. In 2024, Arkham Intelligence launched its own perpetual contract exchange, showing the trend of data platforms expanding their business boundaries. CoinMarketCap, backed by Binance's resource support, has natural advantages in branding, traffic, and technology, and the launch of CMC Launch aligns with the industry's trend towards comprehensive platforms. As an independently operated platform, it can also increase its revenue profitability.
Aster ($AST) is a decentralized perpetual contract exchange formed by the merger of Astherus and APX Finance, backed by investment from YZi Labs (an independent branch of Binance).
Aster is positioned as the next-generation perpetual contract DEX, aiming to provide a seamless trading experience for all users from beginners to professional traders. The project operates on the BNB Chain and Arbitrum, and Aster's core technical highlights include:
Dual-mode trading interface: Simple Mode supports one-click trading with up to 1001x leverage, ideal for beginners; Pro Mode provides advanced tools for experienced traders, such as depth charts and complex order types.
Non-custodial trading: Aster does not require KYC (Know Your Customer) verification.
Aster has integrated robust liquidity pools and yield products through collaboration with partners like PancakeSwap, supporting the minting and holding of assets (such as ALP, USDF, and LP tokens).
Aster has demonstrated strong appeal in the market. According to official data from CoinMarketCap, Aster currently has a total trading volume of $360 billion, $13.6 million in open contracts, and its total locked value (TVL) has risen to $312.44 million.
According to its official website, participants must follow the project party's Twitter, join its CMC community, and interact with the Aster airdrop interface to earn points.
Users can also accumulate points in the following ways to increase future $AST airdrop allocations:
Au Points: Earned by minting and holding ALP, USDF, or qualified LP tokens, suitable for low-risk investors.
Rh Points: Earned by trading perpetual contracts in professional mode, with a trading volume over $300,000 qualifying for 3x Au point bonuses, suitable for high-frequency traders. (https://www.asterdex.com/en/stage1/campaign)
