Aster Surges as Hyperliquid Braces for Unlocks: DeFi Competition Heats Up

[AIcash]

Hyperliquid faces growing competition from Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao-linked decentralized perpetuals exchange Aster, which recently surpassed $2 billion in total value locked (TVL) following its ASTER token launch.

Market analysts suggest this timing is no coincidence: Hyperliquid’s massive token unlocks begin just two months after Aster’s rise, potentially increasing selling pressure while new competitors attract liquidity and users.

“CZ pushing Aster two months before unlocks? Probably not a coincidence,” Ruppert noted. Despite the challenges, HYPE reached a new all-time high of $59.29, highlighting the volatility and intense competition in the DeFi space.