Decentralized finance (DeFi) analytics platform DefiLlama has quietly relisted data for the decentralized exchange (DEX) Aster, after removing it two weeks prior due to concerns about data integrity. However, the reinstatement comes with notable limitations and warnings, highlighting ongoing concerns about the accuracy and transparency of Aster's reported trading volumes.
DefiLlama initially delisted Aster's perpetual trading data in early October after observing that its trading volumes closely mirrored those of Binance, particularly for pairs like XRP/USDT and ETH/USDT. This raised suspicions of wash trading, a manipulative practice used to inflate trading volumes by simultaneously buying and selling the same asset. 0xngmi, a builder at DefiLlama, stated that the platform could not access granular order-level information necessary to verify the legitimacy of the volumes, leading to the initial delisting.
The recent relisting of Aster's data on DefiLlama has not been widely publicized. Moreover, historical data is missing, and verification of current numbers remains difficult. This lack of historical context and the inability to fully verify the data present challenges for users seeking to assess the platform's performance and make informed decisions.
According to 0xngmi, the Aster team requested the relisting while DefiLlama continues to work on a solution involving other metrics to improve verification. The relisting appears to be a compromise, acknowledging Aster's request while also maintaining a cautious approach to data integrity. 0xngmi has cautioned users to exercise caution when dealing with Aster due to these verification gaps. DefiLlama has emphasized that the relisting does not imply full trust or validation of the data.
Despite these concerns, the ASTER token has shown some price recovery since the relisting. The ASTER token price has increased by over 5% in the last 24 hours, mirroring a broader uptrend in the market. At the time of writing, ASTER was trading at $1.20.
In related news, Aster's total transaction fee revenue reached $277.65 million. In an effort to alleviate selling pressure, the Aster team recently repurchased a portion of the shares in the KOL (Key Opinion Leader) round and the media round at a 5% discount.
The situation highlights the importance of data integrity and transparency in the DeFi space. DefiLlama's actions reflect its commitment to providing reliable data to users, even if it means making difficult decisions about listing and delisting platforms. The ongoing efforts to improve verification methods for Aster's data demonstrate the challenges involved in ensuring the accuracy of information in the rapidly evolving DeFi ecosystem.
