Author: 1912212.eth, Foresight News

On May 15, the cryptocurrency data platform CoinMarketCap (CMC) launched its new feature - CMC Launch. The first project to debut is Aster (AST). As a data platform, this is a significant move recently, so what is the underlying significance and thought process behind it? What highlights does Aster have to become the first project to launch?

The newly introduced CMC Launch by CoinMarketCap is similar to the task platform Galxe, filtering some quality projects to provide them with a display platform. Users can directly click the link on the CMC official website to participate in task activities (such as following Twitter accounts, trading interactions, etc.) to earn points, which can later lead to guaranteed airdrops from the projects.

It is worth noting that CoinMarketCap officially reminds users that its task activities are operated by third parties. They do not take responsibility for any tasks or rewards and have no control over them.

Since its establishment in 2013, CoinMarketCap has become one of the mainstream data platforms in the cryptocurrency field, with over tens of millions of monthly active users and page views exceeding 800 million at one point. However, with the rapid development of the cryptocurrency market, industry competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and the functional boundaries of data platforms are being redefined.

The number of cryptocurrency projects has exploded, with thousands of new tokens added in 2024 alone. New projects face significant challenges in gaining traffic and user acquisition to stand out in a crowded market. Meanwhile, competitors like Pump.fun, PancakeSwap's SpringBoard, and Raydium's LaunchLab are also providing exposure opportunities for early projects through Launchpool or similar mechanisms. Following the sustained market attention on Binance Alpha, the demand for project exposure has surged, and CoinMarketCap's launch of CMC Launch is not only a response to market demand but also an important step in seeking differentiation in competition.

Additionally, as the cryptocurrency market matures, investors and users are increasingly focused on early projects (Pre-TGE, before the token generation event). Early projects attract a large number of users seeking the "next big thing" due to their high potential and high risk. CoinMarketCap provides a high-visibility display platform for quality early projects through CMC Launch, while also offering users opportunities to participate in airdrops and interactive tasks to enhance community engagement.

In the past, due to various projects hiding tricks in airdrops—failing to distribute what should be distributed, giving less than promised, suddenly changing rules that eliminated many users, or even refusing to distribute airdrops for various reasons—CoinMarketCap, as the platform provider, essentially guarantees the airdrop rules with its own brand. In the long run, this is undoubtedly a new attempt at win-win cooperation for CoinMarketCap itself, high-quality project parties, and retail investors.

The transformation of data platforms into ecological builders is not unique to CoinMarketCap. In 2024, Arkham Intelligence launched its own perpetual contract exchange, showing a trend of data platforms expanding their business boundaries. Backed by Binance's resources, CoinMarketCap has natural advantages in brand, traffic, and technology, and the launch of CMC Launch aligns with the industry's trend towards comprehensive platforms. As an independently operated platform, it can also increase its revenue.

• Aster ($AST) is a decentralized perpetual contract exchange formed by the merger of Astherus and APX Finance, receiving investment from YZi Labs (an independent branch of Binance).
• Aster is positioned as the next-generation perpetual contract DEX, aiming to provide a seamless trading experience for all users, from beginners to professional traders. The project operates on the BNB Chain and Arbitrum, with core technical highlights including:
• Dual-mode trading interface: Simple Mode supports one-click trading with up to 1001x leverage, suitable for beginners; Pro Mode offers advanced tools for seasoned traders, such as depth charts and complex order types.
• Non-custodial trading: Aster does not require KYC (Know Your Customer) verification.

Aster integrates robust liquidity pools and yield products through collaborations with partners like PancakeSwap, supporting the minting and holding of assets (such as ALP, USDF, and LP tokens).

Aster has shown strong appeal in the market. According to official data from CoinMarketCap, Aster currently has a total trading volume of $360 billion, $13.6 million in open contracts, and its total locked value (TVL) has risen to $312.44 million.

According to its official website, participants currently need to follow the project’s Twitter, join its CMC community, and enter the Aster airdrop interface to interact and earn points.

Users can also accumulate points in the following ways to increase future $AST airdrop allocations:

Au Points: Earned by minting and holding ALP, USDF, or qualified LP tokens, suitable for low-risk investors.

Rh Points: Earned by trading perpetual contracts in Pro Mode, with a trading volume exceeding $300,000 granting a 3x Au points bonus, suitable for high-frequency traders. (https://www.asterdex.com/en/stage1/campaign)

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