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ASTER holds range as traders position for March mainnet launch

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ASTER holds range as traders position for March mainnet launch

ASTER traded flat into mid-February as traders priced in March mainnet launch.

ASTER token consolidated through mid-February as market participants positioned ahead of the project’s scheduled March mainnet launch, according to trader analysis and project roadmap data.

Trader Don Wedge identified an accumulation zone in a chart posted February 19, highlighting a key resistance level that, if breached, could enable movement toward higher price targets, according to the posted analysis.

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The token’s price movement occurred during a broader cryptocurrency market decline, suggesting positioning centered on project-specific developments rather than general market sentiment shifts, according to market observers.

Trader Shuarix stated February 19 that momentum was building ahead of the March mainnet window, citing confirmed mainnet timing, increased on-chain activity, and pre-launch positioning as factors driving price action.

Aster Chain‘s official roadmap lists the Layer 1 mainnet launch in the first quarter of 2026, with multiple reports indicating March as the target delivery period. Mainnet launches typically establish token utility through transaction fees, staking mechanisms, and governance functions.

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Token Terminal data as of February 18 showed six daily active addresses, 44 weekly active addresses, and 340 monthly active addresses on the network. The usage figures raised questions about whether fundamental network adoption supported the technical price setup.

A whale position on Hyperliquid held a four-times leveraged long position open for 22 days as of February 19, according to on-chain data. Large leveraged position exits can trigger selling pressure and cascading liquidations, according to market analysts.

Aster implemented a fee-to-buyback mechanism starting February 4, directing up to 80 percent of daily platform fees toward on-chain token buybacks, according to project documentation. Approximately 40 percent functions as automatic daily buybacks, with 20 to 40 percent allocated to a strategic wallet for discretionary purchases.

The buyback structure creates proportional bid support tied to platform volumes and fees, according to the mechanism’s design. If activity increases ahead of mainnet, buyback flows rise correspondingly; reduced activity diminishes the bid structure.

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Aster’s Stage 6 airdrop phase, designated “Convergence,” runs from February 2 through March 29, 2026, allocating approximately 64 million ASTER tokens, representing 0.8 percent of total supply, according to project announcements. The distribution marks the final transaction-activity-based phase before emissions transition to staking-based rewards.

Airdrop completion could reduce selling pressure from participants accumulating points, potentially affecting price volatility post-claim, according to market analysts.

The project roadmap lists fiat on-ramp and off-ramp integration via third-party providers for the first quarter of 2026. Staking and governance features are scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, according to the published timeline.

The mainnet launch window, fee buyback mechanism, and airdrop phase conclusion provide structural developments supporting technical price action, according to market analysis. Token Terminal’s usage metrics indicate fundamental gaps that mainnet delivery may not resolve without sustained adoption growth, according to the data.

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Market participants positioned for resistance breakouts face execution risk if large leveraged holders exit before key price levels clear, according to trading analysts monitoring the setup.

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Crypto World

Binance Revives Tokenized Equities in Ondo Finance Deal

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Nexo Partners with Bakkt for US Crypto Exchange and Yield Programs

TLDR

  • Binance has relaunched tokenized stocks trading through a partnership with Ondo Finance on Binance Alpha.
  • The platform lists 10 tokenized U.S. stocks, ETFs, and commodity-linked products.
  • Users in the United States cannot access the new tokenized stock offerings.
  • Binance previously halted a similar service in 2021 after regulatory scrutiny in Europe.
  • Ondo Finance has recorded over $550 million in locked value and $11 billion in cumulative trading volume since September 2025.

Binance has relaunched tokenized stocks trading through a new partnership with Ondo Finance. The exchange will list 10 tokenized U.S. stocks, ETFs, and commodity-linked products on Binance Alpha. The move marks Binance’s return to this market nearly five years after halting a similar service.

Binance and Ondo Finance Launch Tokenized Equities on Alpha

Binance has partnered with Ondo Finance to introduce tokenized versions of major U.S. equities on Binance Alpha. The platform operates within Binance Wallet and targets early-stage digital asset offerings. Users can trade blockchain-based versions of Apple, Google, Tesla, and Nvidia shares.

The lineup also includes the Invesco QQQ ETF, which tracks the Nasdaq index. Binance confirmed that users in the United States cannot access these tokenized stocks. Jeff Li, Binance’s vice president of product, said, “Our users now have even more convenient ways to explore and trade tokenized stocks.”

Binance Alpha allows access to projects before they reach the centralized spot marketplace. The company positions the platform as a gateway for higher-risk digital assets. Through this structure, Binance expands product access while keeping trading within its wallet ecosystem.

Ondo Finance issues the tokenized equities listed on the platform. The company focuses on bridging traditional financial assets with blockchain networks. Binance integrates these tokens directly into its wallet infrastructure.

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Binance previously launched tokenized stocks in April 2021, starting with Tesla shares. The exchange later added Coinbase, Strategy, Microsoft, and Apple to the offering. However, regulators in the United Kingdom and Germany raised compliance concerns.

The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority and Germany’s BaFin reviewed the product structure. Following regulatory scrutiny, Binance discontinued the service within months. The company has now resumed tokenized equities through its collaboration with Ondo Finance.

Last month, Binance stated that it was considering a renewed push into tokenized equities. The latest listings on Binance Alpha confirm that plan. The rollout follows growing activity in blockchain-based stock trading platforms.

Tokenized Stocks Market Expands Across Exchanges

Tokenized stocks have grown across crypto exchanges and traditional brokerages. The sector’s total value approaches $1 billion, according to recent market data. Ondo Finance reports more than $550 million in locked value.

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The company also recorded $11 billion in cumulative trading volume since September 2025. Other exchanges, including Kraken, Bybit, and Gemini, have introduced similar products. Robinhood has also launched tokenized equity trading services.

Traditional exchanges have also outlined plans involving stock tokens. Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange have presented proposals tied to blockchain-based trading models. These developments align with Binance’s renewed entry into tokenized equities through Ondo Finance.

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Bitcoin Depot Introduces ID for All Transactions

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Bitcoin Depot Introduces ID for All Transactions

The biggest Bitcoin ATM operator in the US has begun phasing in a new requirement for users to provide identification for every transaction at its crypto ATMs amid increasing pressure from regulators and lawmakers for operators to curb illicit activity.

Bitcoin Depot said on Tuesday that it began the rollout earlier in February across the company’s US network ATMs, with the goal of helping to detect suspicious activity in real time and eliminate misuse by bad actors, such as account sharing, identity theft, and account takeover.

“Continuous verification allows us to detect suspicious activity based on customers, locations, or transaction amount before a transaction is approved,” Bitcoin Depot CEO Scott Buchanan said in a statement.

Bitcoin Depot implemented ID requirements in October, but only for all new users to its service. Buchanan said that “by requiring identity verification at every transaction, we are taking an additional step to strengthen security, protect customers, and maintain the integrity of our services.”

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The US is the largest hub for Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs, with Coin ATM Radar listing 31,360 machines, accounting for 78% of the worldwide total. Bitcoin Depot is the market leader in the country with 9,019 kiosks.

Bitcoin Depot operates the largest number of Bitcoin ATMs in the US. Source: Coin ATM Radar

Bitcoin Depot faces state-level lawsuits

Scammers have long used crypto ATMs as a way to receive funds from unwitting victims, as the kiosks are widespread and their transactions are irreversible, leading regulators and lawmakers to crack down on crypto ATM operators.

The advocacy organisation, the American Association of Retired Persons, reported in February that 17 US states have passed laws requiring crypto ATM operators to implement protections, including daily transaction limits, fraud warning signs, and licensing requirements.

Related: Crypto ATM limits and bans sweep across US: Here’s why

Bitcoin Depot has caught the ire of state regulators, as Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell sued Bitcoin Depot earlier this month, alleging the company has not implemented sufficient safeguards to prevent scams. Campbell is seeking a court order to bar Bitcoin Depot from processing large transactions without additional user protections.

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