Solana Guides
How Aster Season 3 Point Scoring Works
Season 2 uses a sophisticated multi-factor system that rewards real platform usage. Here’s what counts:
Trading Volume (Primary Factor)
- All perpetual trades in Pro mode earn base points
- 2x multiplier for taker orders (market orders get double points vs limit orders)
- Volume is calculated on position size including leverage
Position Holding Time
- Longer positions earn more points
- Snapshots taken every 6 hours to calculate holding rewards
- No minimum holding time, but longer = better
Native Asset Usage
- Using USDF as margin provides significant point multipliers
- asBNB (yield-bearing BNB) also qualifies for bonus points
- These assets also earn passive yield while used as collateral
Realized P&L (Both Wins AND Losses Count)
- Profitable trades earn points based on profit amount
- Losing trades also earn points (acts like a rebate system)
- Points awarded on actual realized gains/losses, not unrealized
Team/Referral Bonuses
- Team multipliers can reach 10-50% on all earned points
- Larger teams with more combined volume = higher multipliers
Advanced Farming Strategies
Delta Neutral Funding Rate Arbitrage
One of the safest ways to farm points while minimizing risk is going delta neutral and capturing funding rates:
How it works:
- Open a long position on Aster (Pro mode)
- Open an equal short position on another platform OR on Aster as well (Hyperliquid works well)
- Collect positive funding rates while remaining market neutral
- Earn points on Aster for trading volume, holding time, and P&L
Example:
- Spot buy $5000 worth of ASTER/USDT on Aster ($5000 position size)
- Short $5000 worth of ASTER/USDT on Aster with 1x leverage and a positive funding rate
- If ASTER pumps: Aster position gains, ASTER position loses equally
- If ASTER dumps: Opposite happens
- Earn funding rates (often 0.1-0.3% every 8 hours) plus Aster points
Risk management: Watch liquidation prices and funding rate changes. Keep positions sized appropriately to avoid liquidation on either side.
USDF Yield Strategy
Minting and using USDF as margin provides multiple benefits:
- Passive yield: 16.7% APY on USDF holdings
- Point multipliers: Extra points for using native assets as margin
- Stability: Pegged to $1, reduces margin volatility
Setup process:
- Navigate to “Trade and Earn” section
- Click “Mint USDF”
- Swap USDT (or other stables) to USDF directly on platform
- Use USDF as margin for all perpetual trades
High-Frequency Scalping for Volume
Since points are awarded per trade regardless of profitability, you can maximize points through frequent small trades:
- Set up small position sizes (1-5% of capital)
- Use tight stop losses and take profits
- Focus on liquid pairs with tight spreads
- Open and close positions multiple times per day
Important: Only do this in Pro mode – Simple and Dumb modes don’t earn Season 2 points.
Comparison to Other Perpetual DEXs
| Feature | Aster | Hyperliquid | Drift Protocol | Jupiter Perps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Leverage | 1001x | 50x | 10x | 100x |
| Native Yield Assets | USDF, asBNB | No | Limited | JLP |
| Funding Rate Arbitrage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Current Airdrop | Season 2 Live | Season 2 Live | No | Season 3 Live |
| Trade-and-Earn | ✅ 16.7% APY | No | No | No |
| Point Multipliers | Team/Asset Bonuses | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Aster’s main advantages are the active airdrop, native yield-bearing assets, and sophisticated point multiplier system. However, Hyperliquid still has better liquidity and tighter spreads for most pairs.
Fee Structure & Costs
Trading Fees:
- Market orders (takers): 0.05%
- Limit orders (makers): 0.02%
- Remember: Taker orders earn 2x points in Season 2
USDF Minting:
- No fees for minting USDF from USDT
- Small gas fees for on-chain transactions
Withdrawal Fees:
- Vary by asset and chain
- Generally competitive with other DEXs
Funding Rates:
- Dynamic based on long/short imbalance
- Updated every hour, paid every 8 hours
- Can be positive or negative (opportunity for arbitrage)
Is Aster Safe? Security Breakdown
Platform Security:
- Non-custodial trading (you maintain control of funds)
- Smart contracts audited by reputable firms
- No private key storage on platform servers
User Fund Protection:
- Isolated margin system prevents total account liquidation
- Insurance fund helps cover bad debt
- Regular security audits and bug bounty programs
Personal Experience: After testing the platform extensively, withdrawals process quickly and I haven’t encountered any major technical issues. The interface is clean and responsive, though not quite as polished as Hyperliquid yet.
Red flags to watch:
- Platform is relatively new compared to established competitors
- Some features still in beta
- Lower liquidity than major competitors (can lead to slippage on larger trades)
Season 3 and Beyond
Multiple sources suggest Season 3 will begin immediately after Season 2 ends, with potentially expanded rules including spot trading activity and new asset integrations. The total community allocation across all seasons is planned to be ~53.5% of total supply, making this one of the more generous airdrop programs in DeFi.
