TLDR
- Changpeng Zhao clarified his role with Aster, stating that he only provides advisory support on product and technology.
- Zhao emphasized that he does not offer advice on regulatory matters, as he is not a lawyer.
- He acknowledged that several former Binance employees are part of Aster’s team but confirmed the project operates independently.
- Zhao’s venture capital firm, YZi Labs, holds a minority stake in Aster, but he stressed that Aster remains independent.
- Aster’s native token, ASTER, saw a significant surge, reaching an all-time high of $2.41 before stabilizing at $1.7.
Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, recently addressed rumors regarding his involvement with the growing decentralized exchange, Aster. He confirmed that he only offers advisory support on product and technology, not on regulatory matters. Zhao’s comments come amid speculation about his role in the development of Aster, which launched in March of this year.
Changpeng Zhao’s Advisory Role with Aster
Changpeng Zhao emphasized that his role with Aster is strictly advisory. He stated,
“I only advise them on product and tech, and I do not advise them on regulatory issues.”
Zhao highlighted that he is not a lawyer and had previously faced challenges related to regulatory matters. He clarified that his involvement is limited to helping the project grow in terms of product development and technology.
NEW: @cz_binance EXPLAINS HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH ASTER
— DEGEN NEWS (@DegenerateNews) September 27, 2025
Zhao also acknowledged that some of Aster’s team members are former Binance employees. However, he stated that Aster operates independently, despite having close ties with the BNB Chain ecosystem. His venture capital firm, YZi Labs, which manages over $10 billion, holds a minority stake in Aster.
Aster’s Rapid Growth and Token Success
Since its launch on the BNB Chain, Aster has gained significant attention. The exchange offers both perpetual and spot trading with its native cryptocurrency, ASTER. The token is used for governance, trading fee discounts, staking rewards, and deflationary buybacks to stabilize its price.
Aster’s token, ASTER, recently surged to an all-time high of $2.41 before settling around $1.7. The exchange’s airdrop, which began distributing about 8.8% of its total token supply, further fueled market enthusiasm. The project’s growth has contributed to a surge in decentralized finance activity, with perpetual DEX volumes reaching $70 billion on September 25.
As of now, Aster accounts for nearly $42.8 billion of the total perpetual DEX volume. Industry experts view Aster’s rise as a sign of a broader rebound in decentralized finance. Despite competing with Binance, Zhao says that Aster’s success indirectly benefits BNB.
