DefiLlama, the decentralized finance (DeFi) data aggregator, has quietly restored decentralized exchange (DEX) Aster to its analytics platform after delisting it weeks ago due to disputed trading data.
Dragonfly managing partner Haseeb Qureshi highlighted this update on X, pointing out that there had been no public discussion or announcement from either Aster or DefiLlama. He also mentioned significant “gaps” in the historical data and inquired with pseudonymous DefiLlama founder “0xngmi” about the legitimacy of the numbers.
In response, 0xngmi indicated that the team could not yet verify the numbers, referring to it as a “black box.” He added that while DefiLlama is in the process of developing a new system to include additional metrics, Aster’s team requested to be relisted in the interim.
“We’re working on a solution that will incorporate other metrics for improvement, but since this may take some time, the Aster team has requested us to relist them in the meantime,” 0xngmi stated.
Aster data controversy ignites transparency discussion
Aster was initially delisted two weeks ago after inconsistencies were identified in its on-chain trading data, raising concerns about the validity of some reported activities.
On Oct. 6, 0xngmi stated that the platform does not allow for tracking who places and fills orders, meaning it cannot differentiate between wash trading and legitimate activity.
The incident surrounding Aster’s delisting sparked a broader discussion about the influence of data providers. Supporters of Aster accused DefiLlama of centralization, while critics questioned whether Aster’s rise to prominence was authentic or orchestrated.
This delisting episode showcased the ongoing challenge of establishing truth in decentralized markets and demonstrated how quickly data-related issues can erode trust.
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Aster relisting resulted in data discrepancies
Although Aster’s metrics are now visible on DefiLlama again, the absence of historical data has led to gaps.
This results in fragmented 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 profile.
Following its reinstatement, Aster remained at the top of the leaderboards for 24-hour perp volume and seven-day perp volume, followed closely by major competitors Hyperliquid and Lighter.
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