Pioneering the next era of DEX: Aster’s AMA key highlights
Speaking at a Cointelegraph AMA, Aster CEO Leonard acknowledged that expectations for the project have risen sharply since launch. “People obviously expect a lot from us,” he said. “It is on us now to deliver – through product, execution, and community.”
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Market reaction as signal
The TGE, he added, was less a milestone than a signal of market direction. “I think it created a chain reaction that can cascade through the entire crypto vertical. It’s pushing the boundaries of what decentralized trading could be.”
Execution, efficiency, and safeguards
That broader shift is visible in how traders now frame execution itself. Many still face what Leonard called an “invisible tax” – slippage, front-running, and unclear fees that eat into performance. Aster’s design aims to reduce those frictions: 1001x Mode offers MEV-free one-click trades, while Pro Mode introduces order-book features such as Hidden Orders, shielding intent without compromising verifiability. “The aim is to preserve privacy without losing transparency,” Leonard explained, noting that further privacy tools are in testing.
Beyond execution, the conversation turned to capital efficiency. 1001x Mode caters to quick entry, while Pro Mode supports advanced strategies. Yield-bearing assets like asBNB or stablecoins can be posted as collateral, keeping capital productive even when locked in margin. “It makes capital work harder while positions are live,” Leonard said, though he stressed that efficiency must always be balanced with risk discipline.
Broadening scope, competing for users
The roadmap, meanwhile, is widening. Aster offers 24/7 stock perpetuals, citing demand from traders who want to capture macro and event risk outside traditional hours. Priorities also include broader instrument coverage, stronger mobile access, and deeper ecosystem integrations. But Leonard was clear that perpetuals come with risks: “Perpetuals are a risky business,” he noted, adding that strict leverage limits and robust controls are non-negotiable for long-term resilience.
Competition in the DEX space inevitably came up. Leonard’s view was pragmatic: the market is expanding fast enough to support multiple approaches. Aster’s goal is not to replicate centralized exchanges, he said, but to re-engineer their strongest qualities – speed, depth, and familiarity – on infrastructure where custody and transparency remain with the trader.
Looking ahead
The session closed with a forward look. Order privacy, new instruments, and community-driven programs remain central to Aster’s next phase, with momentum from the launch serving as a foundation rather than a finish line.
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