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Aster, a decentralized exchange backed by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, is preparing to launch its Aster Chain mainnet in March. The rollout is intended to move the platform beyond cryptocurrency trading by introducing a dedicated layer-1 blockchain, community-driven governance, and wider access to real-world assets.
Aster said on X on Thursday that “Aster Chain mainnet in March. Privacy is good. Aster is good.” The mainnet launch is part of the company’s 2026 roadmap, which focuses on strengthening infrastructure through the integration of fiat on- and off-ramps and by providing a dedicated network for on-chain products and builders’ tools.
The Aster Chain layer-1 testnet went live in early February 2026 after testing in late 2025. The project reported that the testnet now has more than 50,000 members. Aster said it will transition to full production after multiple testnet phases ahead of the mainnet launch.
In 2026, Aster plans to emphasize community-driven upgrades to its decentralized exchange. The stated objectives include staking and on-chain participation and governance features supported by the native ASTER token. The platform also aims to broaden access to real-world assets, including stock perpetual markets, expanding its synthetic trading offerings beyond cryptocurrency.
The article links the Aster Chain testnet rollout to expectations of increased trading activity and liquidity, citing market data that tracks trading activity and liquidity metrics. It also references DeFiLlama’s reporting in 2025 of significant perpetual trading volume, as evidence of demand for scalable infrastructure.
Aster rebranded to become a perpetual futures DEX in March last year, placing it in competition with Hyperliquid, which also operates on a dedicated layer-1. The broader shift toward specialized blockchains for high-throughput transactions is presented as a key driver behind the move to layer-1 infrastructure for perpetual futures trading systems.
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