Key Takeaways
- •Aster launched a new on-chain buyback reserve utilizing up to 40% of daily platform fees.
- •This, combined with Stage 5, allows buybacks to absorb up to 80% of protocol revenue.
- •The framework is designed as a long-term, transparent demand driver for ASTER.
New Buyback Reserve Deployed
Aster has rolled out a new on-chain buyback reserve that will channel between 20% and 40% of its daily platform fees into repurchasing its native ASTER token. The mechanism went live on January 19, with initial buyback transactions already verifiable on-chain.
We’re now actively deploying our Strategic Buyback Reserve for $ASTER token repurchases automatically.
Building on our Stage 5 Buyback Program announced last month, this activation allocates 20-40% of daily platform fees into targeted buybacks, responding dynamically to market… https://t.co/cIbles9eHM
— Aster (@Aster_DEX) January 19, 2026
The reserve is funded directly from revenue generated on Aster’s perpetual futures exchange and operates alongside the protocol’s existing buyback framework, further deepening its commitment to revenue-backed token demand.
“We’re now actively deploying our Strategic Buyback Reserve for $ASTER token repurchases automatically.”
Flexible Buybacks Adapt to Market Conditions
Unlike Aster’s Stage 5 buyback program, which has been running since late December 2025 and executes fixed daily buybacks regardless of market conditions, the new reserve introduces flexibility.
Allocations under the reserve can range from 20% to 40%, depending on factors such as liquidity, volatility, and price action. When combined with Stage 5, the protocol can now direct up to 80% of its daily fees toward ASTER repurchases, all of which are executed transparently on-chain.
Most of the funding comes from perpetual trading fees, with additional contributions from Shield Mode, a high-leverage feature that charges users only on profitable trades. All Shield Mode fees are routed entirely into ASTER buybacks.
Long-Term, Revenue-Tied Strategy for ASTER
Aster has already repurchased more than 209 million ASTER tokens across previous buyback stages, valued at over $140 million at the time of execution. Some of these tokens were burned, while others were retained for treasury management purposes.
While ASTER is down roughly 13% over the past 30 days, the protocol attributed the decline to broader market pressure rather than changes to its buyback structure. The team emphasized that the new reserve is intended as a long-term, revenue-linked mechanism and is expected to remain active throughout 2026, rather than serving as a short-term price support tool.