ASTER rallies then pulls back after mainnet launch as USD1 perpetuals go live with trading rewards, low fees, and liquidity incentives.
Aster has experienced sharp price movements following its recent mainnet developments, with the token rising significantly before returning to a consolidation range.
Market participants observed a pattern where price increased ahead of announcements, followed by rapid reversals after liquidity was swept.
This behavior reflects broader trends seen across altcoins, where short-term momentum often fades after key updates.
Liquidity Sweeps Shape Short-Term Trading Activity
Liquidity sweeps have become a common feature in the current altcoin market, and ASTER is no exception.
Price often moves toward areas where stop orders are clustered, both above resistance and below support.
These zones tend to attract short-term volatility, as traders position around them.
In the case of ASTER, the recent move above local highs was followed by a quick reversal.
This type of action suggests that liquidity above those levels was taken before selling pressure returned.
Similar behavior can be seen when price drops below support levels and then rebounds shortly after.
$ASTER
> Nearly 2x from the local bottom
> Chop around for a month
> Start running up into a mainnet announcement
> Announcement drops
> Sweeps all liquidity and takes out shorts
> Insta sell off back into the rangeThis has been the nature of trading alts the past couple of… pic.twitter.com/Jr50REiNJu
— Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) March 18, 2026
Traders continue to monitor these patterns closely, as they provide insight into potential short-term opportunities.
Market participants often wait for confirmation after a sweep before entering trades.
This approach reflects the current environment, where price reacts more to positioning and liquidity than to standalone announcements.
USD1 Perpetual Contracts Introduced on Aster Chain
Alongside the mainnet activity, Aster introduced USD1-denominated perpetual contracts.
These contracts are designed to expand trading options and support liquidity development on the platform. Initial trading pairs include BTC/USD1, ETH/USD1, and SOL/USD1.
Chain Genesis is live and @worldlibertyfi is already building here 🦅☝️
Aster is launching USD1-denominated perpetual contracts. Building on our USD1 spot listings and trading competitions, while supporting early liquidity development that Aster Chain grows from.
Users trading… pic.twitter.com/UdSqpfQlxl
— Aster 🥷 (@Aster_DEX) March 18, 2026
The platform has also outlined plans to expand the number of trading pairs over time. More than ten pairs are expected as part of the roadmap.
The contracts operate within the broader Aster Chain ecosystem, which continues to attract early participants.
Users trading USD1 perpetual markets may qualify for incentive programs.
The platform announced that up to 2.5 million WLFI tokens could be distributed monthly based on trading activity.
Related Reading: Aster Price Tightens at $0.71 as Volume Surges Ahead of Mainnet Rollout
Incentives and Fee Structure Aim to Boost Participation
Aster has introduced multiple incentive programs tied to USD1 usage. Traders can earn rewards through activity on perpetual markets, with distributions scheduled on a weekly basis.
In addition, users holding USD1 may qualify for separate monthly incentive programs.
The platform has also implemented a reduced fee structure for USD1 trading pairs.
Maker fees are set at 0 basis points, while taker fees are reduced to 0.5 basis points. This compares to higher fees typically seen on USDT-based pairs.
USD1 has also been enabled as a margin asset and collateral within the system.
Its parameters are aligned with those used for USDT, allowing it to function within existing trading frameworks.
