Aster DEX has postponed its second phase $ASTER token airdrop to October 20 after widespread complaints about unexpected allocation mismatches. The decision followed community scrutiny of snapshot data and sparked allegations that insiders secured disproportionate rewards.
Key Takeaways
- Aster has delayed its airdrop to October 20 after users flagged possible data inconsistencies in reward calculations.
- The team says most users’ allocations should not drop below their final snapshot holding percentage (RH%) per epoch and is now revalidating the data.
- Post revision, users will have 48 hours to either accept their adjusted allocations or claim a USDT refund, which will be issued one day after the airdrop to those who choose that option.
- The delay and rollback of allocations follow public criticism from prominent community members accusing Aster and Binance of favoring insiders.
What Happened?
Aster, the decentralized perpetual exchange backed by YZi Labs, announced it found “potential data inconsistencies” in its Stage 2 airdrop snapshot and allocation process. Originally scheduled earlier, the airdrop is now pushed to October 20 to allow time for a full audit of the reward distribution logic.
In its public statement, Aster assured users that most allocations would not fall below their final epoch snapshot-based RH% (reward holding percentage). The team is working to recalculate or correct allocations where necessary and expects to publish the updated figures soon.
Based on community feedback, we identified potential data inconsistencies affecting certain users’ $ASTER allocation. For most users, allocations should not fall below the final snapshot RH% in each epoch.
— Aster (@Aster_DEX) October 10, 2025
We are reviewing this issue and will update allocations where needed.…
To maintain fairness, Aster has introduced a refund option in USDT. After the corrected allocations are live, users will have a 48-hour window to review and either accept or request a refund. For those who opt for the refund, disbursement will happen one day after the airdrop.
Community Outcry Over Allocation Discrepancies
Criticism erupted when active users compared their expected rewards with what the S2 airdrop checker showed. Some reported massive trading activity and referrals but received relatively tiny allocations.
One vocal community member, Quinten (048.eth), claimed to have generated over $100 million in referral trading volume and onboarded around 250 users. Yet, in his view, he was only given 338 ASTER tokens as reward, a figure he argued was vastly disproportionate to his contributions. He alleged that insiders or people close to the project absorbed nearly 95 percent of the airdrop rewards.
Lmao I got 338 $ASTER airdrop 😂
— Quinten | 048.eth (@QuintenFrancois) October 10, 2025
Having 250 signups, $100M volume from referrals, doing quite decent volume myself and having positions open, But still I only got 338 $ASTER (I expected it to be very little).
I said it in the past few days and will say it again: Aster & Binance… pic.twitter.com/hStsRjhEZR
Quinten’s claims drew public responses, including from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who asked for verification of the numbers. Quinten insisted the data was accurate and blamed flawed reward formulas that heavily favored referral activity over trading, staking, or other community contributions.
Just curious, if there anything wrong with your numbers? I have known you for a while. Trying to understand what’s going on. Just finished a livestream with @notthreadguy. These on-chain ecosystem stuff is all over the place.😂
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) October 10, 2025
Social media threads and posts on X (formerly Twitter) filled with side-by-side comparisons, spreadsheets, screenshots, and demands for transparency. In response, Aster stated its technical team has begun validating every allocation record and will maintain close communication with its community. The project reiterated its commitment to transparency and community trust.
Risks, Implications, and Next Moves
The airdrop delay and revision process carry both risks and potential benefits for Aster:
- Trust and Reputation: The controversy erodes user confidence. Correcting allocations could partially restore faith, but damage lingers.
- Refund Pressure: Users dissatisfied with updated allocations may claim refunds, reducing retention of token holders.
- Sell Pressure Risk: After the airdrop, some participants may sell ASTER, especially if they believe the distribution was unfair or diluted.
- Technical and Operational Strain: Reconciling large volumes of on-chain and off-chain data at scale is complex and error prone.
- Narrative and Positioning: The incident underscores the challenge of designing fair reward systems without giving outsized advantage to large actors.
Still, Aster’s strong ambition, Binance affiliation, and growing DEX traction keep it in the spotlight. Before the original delay, the project was seeing high volumes and aggressive growth, powered in part by its token incentive model.
A successful and fair redistribution could calm the storm and foster long-term loyalty. But if community backlash persists, its growth narrative may be overshadowed by liquidity and tokenomics concerns.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience covering crypto airdrops and token launches, community trust is everything. Aster’s decision to pause and audit the allocations is smart, but it does not undo the transparency deficit created. If the team follows up with clear, verifiable explanations and equitable outcomes, the situation could still be salvaged. However, if it fails to satisfy dissatisfied users or if many seek refunds, the damage may outlast the October 20 airdrop. I’ll keep a close eye on how many accept changes versus refund, and whether the post-airdrop behavior confirms loyalty or triggers dumping.
