Aster price holds $1.7 as whales buy, perps volume hits $11B

  • ASTER price is consolidating near $1.7 and is supported by a daily trading volume of $2.1 billion.
  • With resistance at an all-time high near $2 and support at $1.48, ASTER’s price is largely bullish.
  • Upcoming token unlock could introduce volatility.

While several top coins are struggling with downside pressure, Aster’s native token is posting slight gains near $1.7.

The token’s price was up 13% in the past 24 hours, and a staggering 1,980% in the past week at the time of writing, driven by robust trading activity that had daily perps DEX volume hitting $11 billion.

ASTER’s growth as a platform in the decentralised finance (DeFi) space is key to bulls’ momentum.

Perps volume hits $11 billion as ASTER holds $1.7

ASTER’s price has held around $1.7 after retreating from its highs of $1.97 across major exchanges.

The current price reflects a 13% surge in the last 24 hours, outpacing top coins after Monday’s bloodbath.

The token remains well over 1,870% up since its all-time low of $0.084 on September 17, 2025.

Price consolidation sees ASTER rank among the best performers on the day.

Most notably, the decentralised exchange platform has recorded a staggering $11 billion in perps trading volume.

Spot trading volume also spiked, increasing by over 8% to $2.1 billion.

Multi-chain support and Aster’s Genesis Stage 2 rewards program, which allocates over 50% of tokens to community airdrops, has driven significant user engagement.

Bybit’s $100k reward pool campaign also boosted participation, with deposits and spot trading rising.

Meanwhile, Aster has benefitted from the endorsements of influential figures in the space, including Binance’s Changpeng Zhao.

ASTER price and its potential for parabolic gains have seen a whale double down on the token with 7.14 million ASTER tokens worth over $10.5 million.

The whale scooped the tokens via two wallets, Lookonchain noted.

The whale deposited 4.5 million Tether (USDT) into the Aster exchange and withdrew 7.14 million.

On-chain data showed the bull sat on an unrealised profit of $6 million.

What’s next for the ASTER price?

ASTER is testing resistance at $1.75, with upside potential toward $1.90 and the key $2.00 psychological mark.

A breakout above this range could open the door to fresh highs, particularly if sentiment across the broader crypto market turns supportive.

Near term, however, risks are building as profit taking coincides with an upcoming token unlock.

With millions of ASTER tokens set to enter circulation, selling pressure—particularly from airdrop claimants—could weigh on price momentum.

On the downside, $1.58 is emerging as the critical support level. A sustained break lower could see prices slip toward $1.48, where bulls may attempt to regroup.

Despite these risks, consolidation around current levels remains possible.

Should the market absorb selling and broader adoption of ASTER’s zero-knowledge proof–powered DEX infrastructure continue, a decisive break above $2 could mark the beginning of a stronger bullish leg.

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Can XLM price breach past the $0.5 mark?

  • Stellar’s recent performance reflects its growing alignment with XRP’s market dynamics, as bulls capitalise on demand.
  • XLM could break to $0.41 and target a $0.58-$0.80 price range.
  • Stellar’s XLM token is trading at $0.39, with a price increase of over 4% in the past 24 hours.

Stellar (XLM) price rose slightly on Tuesday, with about 4% gains pushing the XLM value to above $0.37.

The XLM token, which has gained amid upticks for Ripple’s XRP, outpaced the rival as several coins looked to put Monday’s rout in the rearview mirror.

Even though Stellar remains well off its all-time high reached in 2018, the latest spike signals a potential resilience as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP hold onto gains.

NEAR Protocol is among the outperformers on Tuesday morning.

Stellar price today

Stellar’s XLM token is trading at $0.39, with a price increase of over 4% in the past 24 hours.

According to market data by CoinMarketCap, XLM’s price gains come as daily trading volume experiences a 10% down flip.

The volume of over $297 million is nonetheless robust.

Other than ETF buzz, Stellar has benefited from milestones such as asset tokenisation and regulatory shifts.

Stellar has also seen a major institutional interest in real-world assets.

During Meridian25, the Stellar Development Foundation announced access to more than $3 billion in RWA on Stellar.

Issuers tapping into XLM’s ecosystem include PayPal, Ondo Finance, Mercado Bitcoin, Centrifuge and RedSwan Digital Real Estate.

The recent launch of PayPal USD on the Stellar network has bolstered transaction activity.

Meanwhile, the increase in Stellar’s total value locked signals growing institutional confidence.

XLM price forecast

Technical indicators and network developments are key metrics to watch when looking at Stellar (XLM) price.

From a technical analysis perspective, XLM is poised at the key support level near $0.35.

The broader picture remains largely negative with XLM in a descending triangle pattern.

Both the daily RSI and MACD signal weakness, and prices could fall to $0.30 and revisit $0.21 in the short term.

XLM price chart by TradingView

However, analysts say crypto is still bullish despite the bloodbath seen on Monday.

If sentiment flips positive, analysts project that a significant upward move will materialise.

The RWA traction and partnerships like those with Mastercard and MoneyGram strengthen Stellar’s appeal for institutional adoption.

With institutional interest rising and technical upgrades enhancing its network, XLM is well-positioned for potential growth.

Bitcoin’s holding above $112k has bolstered bulls, though analysts suggest investors should remain vigilant of market volatility.

If bulls break to $0.41, a potential breakout will unfold and contribute to XLM’s march to $0.58.

Crypto analysts have pointed out that current Stellar price levels could be a great buy-the-dip opportunity.

 

 

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Crypto markets reel after $1.7B wipeout: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin struggle to recover

  • Bitcoin steadies near $112,574 after flash crash wipes $1.7B in leverage.
  • Ethereum trades at $4,198, struggling to recover momentum.
  • Macro worries, Fed policy, and liquidations keep traders cautious.

Cryptocurrencies continue to be defensive this Tuesday, September 23, as investors lick their wounds from the carnage that hit markets barely 24 hours ago.

After a high-stakes selloff erased over $1.7 billion in leverage overnight, even the biggest digital coins haven’t found their footing.

The mood? Anxious, with traders bracing for more bumps ahead as macro jitters and regulatory headlines swirl.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and friends: Cautious trade after the crash

The fallout from Monday’s sharp drop is still echoing across exchanges. Bitcoin, still the market’s north star, is trying to pick itself up after dropping under $112,000.

As of this morning, it’s hovering around $112,574, just a fractional move higher that does little to erase the pain of the previous session.

Ethereum, too, is feeling the weight. The second-largest crypto by market cap changed hands at $4,198, a modest but underwhelming move after Monday’s slide to below $4,100.

Solana is faring no better, sitting at $219 while technical analysts debate whether buyers will step in or a further drop is in store.

XRP slipped to $2.84 as well, breaking a weeks-long upswing.

Meanwhile, Dogecoin is trading at $0.24, down 3.79%, offering little consolation to holders who have already seen the token shed more than 14% since its last peak.

The culprit? Monday’s flash crash was driven by a perfect storm: technical breakdowns, surging Treasury yields in the US, ongoing macroeconomic worries, and a rush of forced liquidations that left hundreds of thousands of traders on the wrong side of the trade.

There’s little appetite for bold bets as risk aversion lingers and volumes thin out.

Beyond prices: Policy shifts and broader market moves

It’s not all about the charts, though. In the background, the Fed’s rate outlook is shaping sentiment across risk assets.

The central bank’s slightly softer stance has analysts speculating about when relief could flow back into crypto, but for now, most remain cautious.

Meanwhile, Google’s ongoing push into blockchain infrastructure and a key crypto, blockchain, and AI conference kicking off in Zurich give the sector something to cheer about even in a tough week.

As September draws to a close, nobody is resting easy. Volatility is the only constant, and with both policy and sentiment in flux, everyone’s watching for either a relief bounce or another unforgiving leg down.

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Pump.fun, dogwifhat and Pepe plummet as top memecoins crash

  • Pump.fun, dogwifhat and Pepe prices fell sharply on Monday.
  • The downturn for the memecoins came as Bitcoin dropped to near $112k.
  • Headwinds for risk assets could see PUMP, WIF, and PEPE register more pain.

Pump.fun, dogwifhat and Pepe plummeted as memecoins crashed amid fresh turbulence for cryptocurrencies.

Memecoins have come under sharp pressure as Bitcoin’s momentum cools following its surge to fresh highs above $117,000 last week.

The benchmark cryptocurrency has since slipped back toward $112,000, a retreat that has dampened broader market sentiment and triggered profit-taking across altcoins.

Memecoins are some of the big underperformers in the past 24 hours.

PUMP, WIF, and PEPE prices dump 10% or more

While Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Bonk are among the top losers, the downturn has been particularly acute for PUMP and WIF.

Pump.fun (PUMP) reached an all-time high of $0.01214 in July.

However, with profit taking and overall downturn, the token has fallen to lows of $0.0060 following the bearish flip around $0.0089 on Sept. 14.

With a price decline of over 16% in the past 24 hours, Pump.fun mirrors the losses of Pi Network and Conflux among the 100 largest coins by market cap.

The PUMP price is down 25% in the past week, while panic selling has increased trading volume up 24% to over $598 million.

Dogwifhat (WIF), the Solana-based meme, has fared no better.

WIF has tumbled to $0.8010, down 11% in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, its trading volume has spiked 102% to over $256 million amid the broader altcoin weakness.

Whale sell-offs have aided bears, with the price 83% off its all-time high of $4.85.

Pepe (PEPE), the Ethereum frog-themed memecoin, also continues its slide into bearish territory.

The memecoin is consolidating near $0.0000097 after plummeting 10% over the past day.

Large sellers have pushed daily volume up by 133% to $889 million.

What’s next for memecoins?

Is the crypto market crashing a sign of more pain ahead of Uptober? Analysts say this is likely.

In the short term, the memecoin rout is symptomatic of a larger crypto market contraction, where total capitalisation has dipped below $4 trillion amid Bitcoin and Ethereum’s price crash.

A confluence of several factors is at play as stocks also shed gains on Monday.

Headwinds impacting the risk asset markets include macroeconomic factors such as Fed policy, trade and inflation dynamics.

The upcoming data release on Friday will be key, as will be the anticipated ETF approvals in the coming weeks.

A market where BTC again rallies will open up a path for memecoins amid crypto’s cyclical outlook.

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South Korea sees record surge in suspicious crypto transactions in 2025

  • Hwanchigi remittances remain the largest driver of suspicious cases.
  • Stablecoins, especially Tether, are used in cross-border laundering schemes.
  • Lawmakers push for tighter monitoring and global cooperation.

South Korea has reported a dramatic rise in suspicious cryptocurrency transactions in 2025, signalling deepening concerns over money laundering and cross-border crime.

According to data from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), domestic exchanges filed 36,684 suspicious transaction reports (STRs) between January and August. This already surpasses the combined totals of the previous two years.

Authorities say much of the increase stems from illegal foreign remittance activities, known locally as “hwanchigi”, where digital assets are used to bypass capital controls and funnel money abroad.

The surge highlights how crypto crime has rapidly evolved into a systemic issue for regulators.

Suspicious transactions hit historic highs

The growth in flagged transactions has accelerated in recent years. In 2021, only 199 cases were reported. By 2022, this surged to nearly 18,000, followed by 16,076 in 2023.

The 2024 total doubled that figure, but the 2025 data for August has already set a new record.

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) referred ₩9.56 trillion ($7.1 billion) in crypto-linked crimes to prosecutors between 2021 and August 2025.

More than 90% of these cases were tied to hwanchigi-related laundering activities, where crypto is used as an intermediary to disguise and reroute funds.

Officials note that exchanges are filing STRs at unprecedented levels, showing both increased surveillance and higher levels of suspicious activity.

Stablecoins linked to global transfers

Regulators have increasingly flagged stablecoins as a key tool in illicit cross-border transactions. Stablecoins are designed to mirror fiat currencies and are often used for faster settlement. However, their role in foreign exchange crimes has become more visible.

In May 2025, customs officials exposed a case involving ₩57.1 billion ($42 million) moved between South Korea and Russia using Tether (USDT).

The investigation found two Russian nationals had completed more than 6,000 illegal transfers between 2023 and 2024. Such cases show how stablecoins can be exploited to sidestep financial restrictions, including sanctions and capital controls.

Experts highlighted this risk, pointing to the growing use of stablecoins in the real economy and their vulnerability to criminal misuse.

The South Korean parliament has urged agencies to scale up monitoring to prevent disguised remittances and to trace criminal funds more effectively.

Lawmakers demand stronger measures

South Korean lawmakers have pressed for tougher enforcement mechanisms, particularly against new types of foreign exchange crimes linked to crypto.

Calls have been made for the FIU and KCS to expand coordination, enhance transaction monitoring, and tighten compliance requirements for exchanges.

Authorities are also exploring ways to strengthen cooperation with international regulators. With hwanchigi cases often involving foreign intermediaries and platforms, officials stress the need for global partnerships to limit cross-border laundering.

Discussions focus on enhancing information sharing and creating stricter frameworks for reporting suspicious stablecoin transactions.

A global regulatory challenge

The scale of South Korea’s STR filings mirrors similar concerns elsewhere. The European Union has introduced its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which sets limits on stablecoin transaction volumes and mandates compliance checks to prevent financial crime.

Meanwhile, central banks in the UK and Europe have considered introducing transaction caps on digital currencies to reduce illicit flows.

South Korea’s data underscores how regulators worldwide are grappling with the same issue: how to balance innovation in digital payments with financial integrity.

With crypto adoption rising, the challenge for policymakers remains preventing misuse without stifling legitimate use of the technology.

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