DefiLlama Reintroduces Aster Following a Data Accuracy Controversy

DefiLlama, a decentralized finance (DeFi) data aggregator, has quietly reinstated decentralized exchange (DEX) Aster to its analytics platform weeks after it was delisted due to disputed trading data.

Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly, highlighted the update on X, pointing out the lack of public discussion or announcement from either Aster or DefiLlama. He mentioned “significant gaps” in the historical data, questioning the legitimacy of the numbers with the pseudonymous DefiLlama founder 0xngmi.

In response, 0xngmi stated that the team still could not verify the data, calling it a “black box.” He explained that while DefiLlama is working on a new system to include additional metrics, Aster’s team requested to be relisted in the meantime.

“We’re developing a solution that will involve other metrics for improvement, but since this may take time, Aster’s team asked us to relist them in the interim,” 0xngmi noted.

Aster data dispute prompted transparency discussions

Aster was initially removed two weeks ago after inconsistencies were found in its on-chain trading data, raising concerns about unverified reported activities.

On October 6, 0xngmi indicated that the platform couldn’t provide data on who was making and fulfilling orders, meaning it couldn’t differentiate between wash trading and legitimate activity.

The delisting of Aster sparked a broader discussion regarding the authority of data providers. Supporters of Aster accused DefiLlama of centralization, while critics questioned the authenticity of Aster’s rise to prominence.

This incident highlighted persistent challenges in ascertaining truth in decentralized markets, demonstrating how quickly data-related issues can affect trust.

Related: DeFi TVL reaches record $237B as daily active wallets drop 22% in Q3: DappRadar

Aster relisting revealed data gaps

Although Aster’s metrics are now displayed on DefiLlama, the absence of historical data has created gaps.

This fragmentation affects longitudinal comparisons, such as market-share trends, fee leaderboards, or cumulative revenue charts. For traders and model builders relying on these metrics, the gaps effectively reset Aster’s historical footprint.

After its reinstatement, Aster maintained the top position on the leaderboards for 24-hour and seven-day perpetual volume, trailed by main competitors Hyperliquid and Lighter.