Aster DEX, a decentralized perpetual futures exchange built on BNB Chain and advised by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), has achieved a major milestone by surpassing Tether (USDT) in daily fee generation on September 29, 2025.
According to DeFiLlama data, Aster raked in approximately $29.2 million in fees over the past 24 hours, edging out Tether’s $22.2 million and dwarfing competitors like Circle $7.7 million and Uniswap $4.19 million. This marks the first time a DeFi protocol has overtaken the dominant stablecoin issuer in daily revenue, highlighting the explosive growth in decentralized trading volumes.
Aster processed $62.5 billion in perpetual futures volume in the last 24 hours, fueled by high-leverage markets up to 1,001x and features like trade privacy to prevent front-running. Over the past week, Aster generated $93.5 million in fees—nearly 10x Hyperliquid’s $9.35 million—while trailing Tether’s $154 million overall but showing faster daily peaks.
The $ASTER token jumped 14% to around $1.96, up over 1,900% since its September launch, amid speculation of token buybacks that could trigger a supply shock. With investments from CZ’s YZi Labs and former Binance talent on the team, Aster is positioning itself as a “Binance killer” in DeFi, drawing $185 billion in weekly trading volume—more than double Hyperliquid’s.
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This flip underscores DeFi’s maturation, as trading fees now rival stablecoin yields from incumbents like Tether and Circle. Analysts see it as a sign of liquidity shifting from centralized exchanges, with Aster’s integration into Trust Wallet and potential Layer-1 chain launch adding fuel.
Jim Cramer Says “Buy Crypto”
In a surprise tweet CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer posted simply: “buy crypto.” The cryptic message, accompanied by a photo likely symbolic or promotional, comes amid his ongoing book launch for How to Make Money in Any Market and has sparked widespread reactions in the crypto community.
Known as the “Inverse Cramer” indicator—where his calls often precede opposite market moves—this endorsement is being interpreted by many as a contrarian sell signal, with memes and jokes flooding X.
Cramer has shifted from calling crypto a “scam” in 2022 to advocating it as a hedge against the U.S.’s $37.8 trillion national debt. In July 2025, he revealed buying “a lot” of Bitcoin for his kids’ future, urging others to do the same.
He recommends keeping crypto under 5% of a portfolio as a speculative play, citing fortunes made despite volatility. In November 2024, he doubled down: “Own Bitcoin, that’s a winner.” X users are memeing it hard, with replies like “Time to sell everything”.
One post quipped: “A book on making money? Hope there’s a chapter on what to do when Jim Cramer says BUY CRYPTO.” These two headlines colliding on the same day feels like peak crypto chaos: DeFi innovation stealing the spotlight while a Wall Street icon accidentally (or not) fuels the “sell the news” vibe.
Aster’s $29.2 million in daily fees overtaking Tether’s $22.2 million signals a seismic shift in liquidity toward decentralized platforms. With $185 billion in weekly trading volume, Aster’s high-leverage perpetual futures (up to 1,001x) are pulling traders from centralized exchanges like Binance.
DeFi protocols like Aster generate revenue directly from trading activity, unlike Tether’s reliance on stablecoin yields tied to traditional finance. This shows DeFi’s ability to outpace CeFi in fee efficiency during high-volume periods.
Aster’s success, backed by figures like CZ and integrated with tools like Trust Wallet, boosts credibility for DeFi as a mature, scalable alternative to centralized systems. The $ASTER token’s 14% jump to ~$1.96 and 1,900% gain since launch reflect hype around potential token buybacks.
A supply shock could drive further price spikes, but volatility risks remain high. Higher fees could fund ecosystem growth, making $ASTER a focal point for speculative investment in DeFi.
Aster’s “Binance killer” narrative, amplified by its Binance-linked team, challenges centralized giants. Its $62.5 billion daily volume dwarfs competitors like Hyperliquid, signaling a potential reshuffling of market share.
Tether and Circle, reliant on stablecoin issuance, may face declining relevance if DeFi platforms continue capturing trading fees, especially as regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins grows.
Aster’s success bolsters BNB Chain’s position as a DeFi hub, leveraging low fees and high throughput to attract developers and traders. Features like trade privacy and extreme leverage highlight DeFi’s ability to innovate faster than CeFi, potentially drawing institutional interest despite regulatory risks.
Implications of Jim Cramer’s “Buy Crypto” Tweet
Cramer’s history as the “Inverse Cramer” indicator—where his calls often precede opposite market moves—means his “buy crypto” tweet could trigger short-term selling pressure. X posts already mock the call, with traders eyeing a dip.
Cramer’s mainstream reach via CNBC may draw new retail investors to crypto, but his mixed track record could lead to poorly timed entries, amplifying losses if markets correct. Cramer’s recent pivot to crypto as a hedge against the U.S.’s $37.8 trillion debt reinforces a growing narrative among Bitcoin bulls.
This could sustain long-term interest in BTC and other store-of-value assets, especially amid inflation fears. A Wall Street figure like Cramer endorsing crypto, even if polarizing, lends mainstream credibility, potentially encouraging hesitant investors to allocate that 5% portfolio slice he recommends.
Aster’s fee milestone showcases DeFi’s technical and economic prowess, while Cramer’s tweet reflects crypto’s growing acceptance in traditional finance circles. Together, they signal a tipping point where decentralized systems gain traction alongside mainstream narratives.
Cramer’s tweet may cause choppy price action, with traders fading his call, while Aster’s momentum could drive $ASTER and related tokens higher. Expect altcoin volatility as narratives clash.
Aster’s rise highlights DeFi’s ability to innovate and capture value, but Cramer’s influence could inflate CeFi-driven assets, creating a temporary disconnect. While Aster’s fees reflect real usage, Cramer’s tweet risks inflating speculative bubbles in unrelated tokens, potentially leading to a correction that overshadows DeFi’s structural gains.