CZ's Influence Casts Doubt on Aster's Rapid Ascent Amidst Formal Rejections

YZi Labs, a venture capital entity co-founded by former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), owns a minority interest in the decentralized derivatives platform Aster. CZ has made it clear that Binance is not officially involved with Aster. In a Twitter Spaces discussion held on September 27, 2025, CZ stated that neither he nor Binance provides support to Aster, though he did confirm YZi Labs’ investment, emphasizing it does not equate to full ownership. He attributed the ongoing speculation to the fact that several ex-Binance staff members are now part of Aster’s team, which has led to rumors about a closer connection to Binance’s founder.

Aster, which transitioned from its former identity as ApolloX in late 2024, has attracted significant attention due to its swift expansion. The platform, which operates on the

Chain, recently reported a 24-hour trading volume of $46.9 billion and a market capitalization of $3.4 billion. Its native token, ASTER, experienced a 2,227% increase last week, reaching a high of $2.40 before stabilizing near $1.98 as the broader market adjusted. Market observers point out that ASTER’s price movement has closely followed early forecasts, with important support levels now between $2 and $2.20.

YZi Labs’ participation in Aster aligns with its broader mission to nurture leading projects in major crypto trends, such as decentralized derivatives and AI-driven DeFi. Analysis of the firm’s 2024–2025 portfolio shows that 65% of its investments are either solo or lead rounds, with Aster exemplifying its “early-stage betting” strategy. YZi Labs’ emphasis on areas like real-world assets (RWAs), AI agents, and modular infrastructure highlights its influence as a driver of innovation within the BNB Chain network.

Although CZ has distanced himself from direct involvement, Aster’s links to YZi Labs and the Binance ecosystem have heightened investor interest. The platform’s wallet currently holds $131 million in

, second only to Binance’s $236 million in the same token. CZ’s public praise for Aster’s “impressive launch” during its token generation event (TGE) further increased market optimism, but he reiterated that YZi Labs only holds a minority share.

The rapid rise of Aster has also led to comparisons with rivals like Hyperliquid, which posted $12.8 billion in 24-hour trading volume during the same timeframe. Despite facing strong competition, Aster’s support for multiple chains and features such as hidden orders and up to 1001x leverage make it a formidable contender against centralized exchanges. YZi Labs’ history of supporting projects like Hooked and

, both of which secured Binance listings after their TGEs, further strengthens Aster’s prospects for swift market adoption.