- Analysts say ASTER could match HYPE’s past $18B valuation, implying a 480% rally from current levels.
- Whale wallets have rotated tens of millions from HYPE into ASTER, signaling strong conviction.
- Ongoing airdrop and token unlocks could further fuel ASTER’s short-term momentum.
Aster (ASTER), the new decentralized exchange token tied to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, is catching serious momentum. Analysts now say ASTER could flip Hyperliquid (HYPE) by market cap and rally as much as 480%.
Market watcher Marcell pointed out that HYPE once peaked at an $18 billion market cap—about 4.8 times higher than ASTER’s current $3.74 billion. If ASTER were to simply match that valuation, its price could jump from around $2 today to nearly $10 in the coming months. Another analyst, Danny, who accurately called ASTER’s move to $2, now believes it could flip HYPE’s valuation by next week, reaching $8–10 billion.
Whales Rotate Out of HYPE Into ASTER
The conviction isn’t just in the charts—it’s on-chain. Whale wallets have been dumping millions of dollars worth of HYPE while rotating into ASTER. On Monday, one whale offloaded $17 million in HYPE and pushed nearly $9 million of it directly into ASTER. Another wallet went even bigger, buying $50 million worth of ASTER in a single day, while a “mystery whale” has scooped up more than $75 million in just 48 hours.
Meanwhile, ASTER’s trading activity has already surpassed HYPE in daily revenue and volumes, strengthening the case that the market may soon reprice ASTER closer to its rival’s highs.
Tokenomics and Near-Term Catalysts
Analysts also point to two near-term events that could keep ASTER’s rally alive: an ongoing airdrop campaign until October 5, and a small 4% token unlock on October 17. Both events are expected to fuel farming activity, add liquidity, and boost trading volumes.
Since debuting on September 17, ASTER has rocketed over 7,900%, becoming the 36th largest cryptocurrency by market cap. In contrast, HYPE has slipped 16% over the same period. The divergence, backed by whale inflows and retail hype, suggests the narrative has shifted decisively in ASTER’s favor.
The Bigger Picture: Can ASTER Really Flip HYPE?
The “Hyperliquid killer” tag is making rounds, but it may not be a zero-sum game. Demand for perpetual DEX trading is enormous, and both tokens could find strong user bases. Still, with whales, analysts, and on-chain momentum aligning, ASTER’s shot at flipping HYPE is looking more realistic by the day. If it happens, the token could enter the $9–10 range—and maybe even beyond.
