- •Huang Licheng boosts ASTER short position amid price rise.
- •Liquidation price adjusted to $2.62 following market volatility.
- •High funding rates reflect increased speculative risks in ASTER trades.
Huang Licheng, known as "Whale Friend," increased his short position on ASTER to $2.62 on September 21, 2025, drawing market attention amid ASTER's rapid price rise.
The event highlights ASTER's leverage‑driven volatility and potential market risks, with significant implications for the Hyperliquid platform and related derivative markets.
Huang Licheng's Strategic Move
Huang Licheng, known as "Whale Friend," has increased his ASTER short position, pushing the liquidation price to $2.62. This move occurred against the backdrop of fast appreciation in ASTER's value, significantly attracting market attention due to its scale and timing.
Identified on trading platforms, Huang's action drew focus due to his established influence in crypto derivatives markets. The position now stands at $496,000, backed by 350,000 ASTER tokens. According to Huang Licheng ("Big Brother Ma Ji"), "Big Brother Ma Ji" Huang Licheng once again added to his 3x ASTER short position opened on Hyperliquid, with the current position size reaching $496,000 (350,000 ASTER), average entry price increased to $1.218, liquidation price increased to $2.62, currently facing an unrealized loss of $69,200.
Impact on Market Dynamics
The immediate effect of Huang's position increase has been a spike in ASTER’s 24‑hour trading volumes, reflecting intense market speculation. Huang's action has drawn significant attention. Concurrently, funding rates have surged to an annualized 450%, emphasizing speculative risks in the derivative market.
Financially, this indicates heightened institutional hedging with little impact on broader assets like ETH or BTC. The activity predominantly impacts ASTER due to its leveraged trades on Hyperliquid and trends in DeFi derivatives.
Market Volatility and ASTER's Future
Huang's strategy showcases continued market interest, with ASTER recording $434 million in trading volume post‑launch. The market displays anticipation of volatility that mirrors past short squeezes on low‑float tokens.
Historical trends show that tokens like ASTER, with their low‑circulating supply and high leverage, can experience extreme volatility. Known for speculative risks, these positions are susceptible to rapid changes in both value and investor sentiment.