Aster DEX ramps up buybacks with Stage 5 — but selling pressure remains Aster DEX has rolled out its Stage 5 buyback program, committing as much as 80% of protocol fees to repurchase ASTER as part of an aggressive deflationary push — but the market hasn’t yet responded with a sustained rebound. What’s new in Stage 5 - Up to 80% of protocol fees are now earmarked for buybacks. Official reporting shows 40% of daily platform fees are funneled into automatic daily buybacks, while 20–40% of fees are placed into a strategic reserve. (Source: Asterlify) - Buybacks are executed from a transparent wallet so the community can track activity in real time. - Since Stage 5 went live the team has bought 566,000 ASTER (about $399,000, per Asterlify). How buybacks fit into Aster’s broader strategy - Token buybacks became Aster DEX’s primary tool to absorb sell-side pressure after the protocol shifted strategy a few months ago. - Prior to Stage 5, Aster completed four buyback rounds, repurchasing more than 209 million tokens with a cumulative value exceeding $140 million. New fee mechanics aimed at fueling buybacks - Shield Mode Fees: 100% of fees collected under the recently launched Shield Mode are allocated to ASTER buybacks. - Profit-and-loss sharing fee: traders pay a 15% fee on net profits and nothing on losses; proceeds will be used exclusively for buybacks. This means all Shield Mode net profits will flow straight back into repurchases. Market reaction so far Despite the protocol’s sustained deflationary effort, ASTER is still under heavy selling pressure: - According to Coinalyze, ASTER recorded sell volume of 4.43 million versus buy volume of 3.54 million at press time, producing a net sell delta of -890,000. - Top holders dumped roughly 17 million ASTER in the past 24 hours, underscoring bearish sentiment. - On-chain and chart indicators show ASTER trading inside a descending channel and sitting below the 20- and 50-period EMAs — a technical picture that points to continued downside risk. (Source: TradingView) Technical levels to watch - Near-term support: $0.60 — persistent selling could push the token toward this level. - For a meaningful bullish reversal: ASTER would need a daily close above the 20-EMA at about $0.83. Bottom line Aster DEX has materially stepped up buyback intensity — and introduced new fee streams specifically designed to fund repurchases — but heavy selling from both retail and large holders has so far outweighed those measures. The protocol’s transparent buyback reporting provides clarity for the community, yet technical indicators and volume metrics suggest ASTER needs stronger buying momentum to break the current downtrend. Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading carries high risk; do your own research before making decisions. Sources: Asterlify, Coinalyze, TradingView, AMBCrypto. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news