Aster, a decentralized perpetual trading platform incubated by Binance Labs, is weighing vesting schedules for recipients of its token airdrop. The platform, formerly known as Astherus, is gearing up to distribute 704 million ASTER tokens, representing 8.8% of the total supply, to early users and community members. The Token Generation Event (TGE) took place on September 17, 2025, and the claim window is open until October 17, 2025.
Airdrop Eligibility and Claiming
Eligibility for the Aster airdrop is based on on-chain and platform activity, including:
- Perp/spot trading volume and consistency.
- Participation in points campaigns (e.g., season points, trading quests, referral/LP tasks).
- Early involvement in Aster's programs and social verifications.
- Adherence to sybil filters and anti-abuse rules.
To claim ASTER tokens, eligible users should visit the official Aster airdrop portal and connect their EVM wallet. After running the eligibility checker and accepting the terms, users can sign the claim, which requires a small gas fee. It's crucial to verify receipt of the tokens by checking the on-chain transaction hash in the wallet activity. Withdrawals are expected to open on October 1, 2025. Unclaimed tokens after October 17, 2025, will be redirected to support ecosystem development initiatives.
Vesting Schedules: Ensuring Long-Term Alignment
Vesting schedules are a mechanism to release tokens over time, typically through cliff vesting (releasing all tokens at once after a period) or linear vesting (releasing tokens gradually). These schedules define vesting periods and unlock mechanisms to ensure controlled and predictable token distribution, aligning incentives for recipients.
While the details of Aster's vesting schedules are still being weighed, understanding general vesting principles is crucial. For instance, one approach involves distributing TGE rewards in tranches:
- Immediate Claim: Keeping a portion (e.g., 40%) of rewards, with the remainder going to a foundation.
- Claim After a Period: Claiming a larger portion (e.g., 65%) after a set period (e.g., 180-360 days), with the rest allocated to the foundation.
- Claim After a Longer Period: Claiming 100% of rewards after an extended period (e.g., 360 days) with no penalties.
Another approach involves linear vesting, where tokens are unlocked daily over a duration, such as 36 months, with no penalties.
Tokenomics and Allocation
The total airdrop allocation is 704 million ASTER tokens, representing 8.8% of the total supply. Other allocations include:
- Ecosystem & Community: 30.0%
- Treasury: 7.0%
- Team: 5.0%
- Liquidity & Listing: 4.5%
Airdrop Significance and Future Plans
The Aster airdrop is considered one of the largest token distributions in the DeFi space this year. Aster aims to establish itself as a next-generation decentralized trading hub with multi-chain interoperability and community-driven governance. The airdrop is a key strategy for driving adoption and incentivizing traders, community builders, and key ecosystem stakeholders. Aster's Stage 2 campaign is ongoing until October 5th, offering participants a chance to qualify for a share of 320 million ASTER tokens.
