ASTER: The Next HYPE or Just Hype?

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  September 23, 2025 at 22:01  |  11:49  |  1000x Podcast
Speakers
Avi Felman — Principal, GoldenTree Asset Management
Jonah Van Bourg — Head of Trading, Cumberland / ex-Vitol

Summary

The clip debates whether ASTER is a sustainable new perp DEX/token or just a short-lived hype trade. Avi sees a tactical round-two trade after a sharp pullback, citing CZ backing, low switching costs among perp DEXs, and FOMO from sidelined traders. Jonah is skeptical, arguing ASTER lacks fundamental value, resembles a memecoin, may be wash traded, and is too dangerous to chase. Both largely treat it as a trading vehicle rather than a long-term fundamental holding.

  • Avi and Jonah debate whether ASTER is a durable perp DEX or short-lived hype.
  • Avi highlights a possible round-two trade after ASTER's sharp pullback and builds a bull case around CZ backing and FOMO.
  • Jonah argues ASTER has no fundamental value, weak revenue history, and resembles a memecoin.
  • Avi shows reported Aster volume and open-interest metrics that look implausible and suggestive of wash trading.
  • Hyperliquid is used as the dominant incumbent, with low switching costs for perp DEX users.
  • Jonah warns volatile assets like ASTER can cause large retail losses and distract from long-term positions.
  • Both question whether Aster will still be discussed in six months.
Ideas
Avi Felman Principal, GoldenTree Asset Management 1:15
Hyperliquid has best-in-class perp DEX execution.
Hyperliquid is the best-executed perp DEX. Its team is extremely competent, it has reached a scale no other perp DEX has approached, and that execution quality makes it the dominant incumbent in the category.
Avi Felman Principal, GoldenTree Asset Management 3:38
Aster offers a round-two pullback trade.
Aster is a good short-term trading asset despite weak fundamentals. It traded up very quickly, then pulled back about 35% from its highs, leaving many traders sidelined; that creates FOMO and supports a round-two trade. Avi is watching it and would nibble/buy around $1 with an exit around $2 if a more significant pullback occurs. CZ backing and the potential to steal perp DEX market share from Hyperliquid improve the setup.
Jonah Van Bourg Head of Trading, Cumberland / ex-Vitol 4:07
Aster lacks fundamentals; avoid the token.
Aster is not a fundamentally investable asset and should be avoided. It has almost no operating history or statistically significant revenue base to justify a roughly $2.4 billion valuation, and the token is not yet linked to real business cash flows. It is more like a memecoin than a Hyperliquid-style vehicle that buys back tokens with business revenues, and even potential future announcements would have only a few days of live operating data to support them. High volatility can also nuke retail traders, so Jonah will not chase the chart or FOMO.
Up Next

This 1000x Podcast video, published September 23, 2025, features Avi Felman, Jonah Van Bourg discussing HYPE, ASTER. 3 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Avi Felman, Jonah Van Bourg  · Tickers: HYPE, ASTER