Aster CEO Leonard Breaks Down CEX Framework: Replicating 80% of Products in a Year, Aiming to Surpass Binance

Aster’s Positioning and Origins

In a recent interview, Aster CEO Leonard outlined the project’s trajectory from a perpetual contract DEX to a multi-chain trading platform. Aster started on BNB Chain, launching with perpetual contract products, and later expanded to support multiple chains such as Arbitrum, OP, Linea, and Solana. The project is now evolving toward a “comprehensive multi-chain trading platform,” with the goal of seamlessly integrating trading, lending, yield generation, staking, and other functionalities.

Leonard noted that while Aster is often viewed as part of the Binance ecosystem, the team has moved beyond those boundaries, aiming to become an “on-chain version of Binance”—in other words, to deliver the core CEX product experience on the blockchain.

What “Replicating 80% of CEX” Means and How to Achieve It

Leonard stated: “Within a year, we plan to replicate 80% of the CEX product experience, but entirely on-chain.” This “replication” is not simple imitation; it means re-creating core CEX functionalities—mainstream trading, asset management, leverage, lending, staking, rewards systems, and market-making mechanisms—via blockchain-native modules.

Key strategies may include:

• On-chain order books or hybrid matching engines
• Cross-chain asset bridges and liquidity aggregation
• Staking and lending products
• Trading fee discounts, rewards/points systems
• Token buyback and burn mechanisms
• Governance voting and token listing processes

Recently, Aster announced that users who pay perpetual contract trading fees with ASTER receive a 5% discount, further expanding the token’s utility. The team is also preparing a token buyback mechanism to reinforce market confidence and manage circulating supply.

Major Challenge: Decentralization vs. Efficiency

Migrating CEX products to the blockchain faces a fundamental challenge: balancing “decentralization” with “efficiency and user experience.”

• Performance limitations: On-chain operations are constrained by throughput, latency, and gas fees.
• Liquidity and slippage: CEXs offer deep liquidity, rapid matching, and strong protection against slippage, which are difficult for DEXs to replicate.
• Governance and decision-making: CEXs have centralized advantages in listing tokens, adjusting features, and managing risk; on-chain governance can be slower and more contentious. Leonard acknowledges that some centralized control will be retained in the early stages to ensure operational efficiency.
• Security and compliance: On-chain platforms are more vulnerable to attacks (such as flash loans and manipulations), while CEXs benefit from established risk management systems.

These challenges test not only technical expertise but also the team’s ability to manage product design, tokenomics, and risk comprehensively.

Tokenomics and Market Risks

During the interview, Leonard addressed concerns about the distribution and concentration of Aster tokens. He explained that about 96% of ASTER appears concentrated in a few addresses, but roughly 80% remains locked, with airdrop addresses accounting for about 40% of the total supply. Some “whale addresses” may simply be users’ spot deposit accounts on the platform. Leonard emphasized that private investors do not intend to sell their tokens, which constitute only a small portion of the team’s allocation.

Recently, Aster’s price has seen a decline of over 20%, with some analysts attributing this to product doubts, investor exits, and competitive pressure from Hyperliquid. In this environment, token buybacks, trading fee discounts, and robust user growth are vital for restoring confidence. Leonard noted that a token buyback plan will be announced within the next few weeks.

Future Vision: Surpassing CEX

Leonard has repeatedly stated that he sees CEXs as Aster’s primary competitors, with the ultimate aim to “surpass Binance.” He believes that DEXs can eventually take on the role of CEXs: as blockchain infrastructure becomes more mature, performant, and user-friendly, DEXs could exceed CEXs in areas like transparency, self-custody, and security.

Nonetheless, truly “surpassing Binance” is a significant challenge. CEXs maintain formidable advantages in market share, capital, liquidity, user base, and regulatory compliance. Aster must continue advancing its technology, community, and ecosystem. Ultimately, Aster’s vision is compelling: if it can replicate CEX core features within a year and build a stable ecosystem and user trust in the years ahead, the “on-chain Binance” could become reality instead of just a slogan.

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