TL;DR
- FUD Response: Aster CEO Leonard rejected claims that CZ manipulated the token during its debut, calling the allegations baseless and emphasizing that Zhao is only a consultant.
- Tokenomics Update: Leonard detailed automated daily buybacks, on‑chain transparency, and recent actions, including 254 million tokens repurchased, 78 million burned, and 78 million moved to airdrop reserves.
- Market Impact: ASTER saw a short‑term price lift to $0.59 after the statement, while AsterDex’s Strategic Reserve Buyback Fund added a $1.6 million repurchase, contributing to 248 million tokens bought back since October.
The growing wave of allegations targeting former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has now reached Aster, prompting the decentralized exchange’s chief executive, Leonard, to issue a detailed response aimed at calming community tensions. In a statement shared early Tuesday on X, he rejected claims that Zhao manipulated Aster’s token during its early trading days, arguing that the accusations lacked evidence and were designed to stir public distrust.
Addressing ongoing FUD
There are some allegations swirling around regarding Aster and the team that are simply factually incorrect. These accusations are made without any evidence to deliberately sway public opinion with malicious intent. I'm addressing these allegations not…
— Leonard 💛 Aster (@Leonard_Aster) February 3, 2026
Leonard Rejects Claims of Market Manipulation
Leonard said the team understood investor frustration over Aster’s recent price weakness but stressed that the rumors circulating about Zhao’s involvement were factually incorrect. He reiterated that short‑term volatility is difficult to predict, while long‑term value depends on the project’s output and token model. The CEO emphasized that Zhao serves only as a consultant and that the DEX operates independently. He also noted that Yzi Labs, an investor in the project, holds its allocation under long‑term lockup conditions.
Addressing concerns about token emissions, Leonard explained that the token’s tokenomics follow publicly disclosed rules designed to reward liquidity providers, traders, and long‑term holders rather than insiders. He highlighted recent updates to the buyback system, which now automates daily repurchases using platform fees.
These transactions, he said, are fully visible on‑chain and can be tracked through community dashboards. The CEO added that Aster has repurchased 254 million tokens, burned 78 million, and reallocated another 78 million to airdrop reserves, with remaining tokens slated for future burns.
Project Improvements and Final Airdrop Campaign
Leonard outlined ongoing improvements to user experience, including a redesigned interface and faster loading speeds. He confirmed that the current trading airdrop campaign, labeled S6, will be the final one. Automatic buybacks will continue throughout S6, using up to 80% of collected fees. He encouraged community members to judge the project by its execution rather than speculation, offering to provide on‑chain proofs or audits.
Aster’s token showed modest recovery following the statement, rising nearly 6% over the past 24 hours to $0.59 despite broader weekly and monthly declines. Last Sunday, AsterDex activated a Strategic Reserve Buyback Fund to repurchase 2.9 million tokens valued at $1.6 million, adding to cumulative buybacks of 248 million tokens worth about $137 million since last October.
