ASTER Whales Profit Big from 27% Rally After CZ’s Token Reveal

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• CZ’s ASTER holdings announcement sparked a 27% rally.
  
• Whales accumulated 80M tokens, then shorted the top.
  
• Smart money profited from both the pump and dump.

ASTER [ASTER] surged 27% on November 2, snapping a month-long period of sideways trading and reclaiming the $1.25 mark. The move came shortly after Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) disclosed on X that he personally holds 2.09 million ASTER tokens, purchased at around $0.91.
His post immediately calmed investors following widespread panic over unverified sell-off rumors. Confidence returned fast — and whales moved faster.

On-Chain Data Reveals Strategic Whale Accumulation

According to on-chain data, ASTER’s top whale cohort — which holds roughly 30% of the supply — added 80 million tokens during the rally, boosting their share to 31.62%.
However, the surge in price appeared more psychological than structural. Open Interest (OI) jumped by $323 million right after CZ’s announcement, signaling a rush of leveraged bets rather than organic demand. Behind the scenes, many large wallets were positioning short, hinting that the rally might not be built to last.

Whales Cash Out — Profiting From Both Sides

As quickly as ASTER pumped, it retraced 15% within a day. Data flagged aggressive short positioning by major players — one whale even opened a $15 million 3x short with a liquidation level at $2.11. With ASTER’s pullback, that address now sits on about $1.4 million in unrealized profit, while another is up nearly $6 million.

These calculated plays show a clear pattern: whales bought the post-CZ pump, shorted near the peak, and sold into the correction. It’s a textbook volatility trade — one that rewarded the smart money handsomely.

Not a Bull Run — Just Smart Money at Work

While retail traders may see ASTER’s surge as bullish momentum, the underlying data tells a different story. Whales used sentiment swings to engineer liquidity and profit from both ends of the market.
For now, ASTER’s rally looks less like the start of a sustained trend and more like a reminder — in crypto, volatility is the game, and whales are still the best players on the board.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.

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