Aster launches privacy-focused Layer 1 for perpetual trading with zero-knowledge tech, hiding positions while enabling onchain settlement and selective disclosure

Aster, a decentralized perpetual futures exchange backed by YZi Labs, has launched the mainnet of Aster Chain, a privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for perpetual trading and other high-frequency DeFi activity. The chain uses zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography, stealth addresses and a privacy-by-default design so that traders’ positions and order flow are encrypted and not visible on the public mempool, while still settling transactions onchain. Orders in the default mode are verifiable via ZK proofs but executed through one-time stealth addresses that break the link between a user’s main wallet and their trading activity, addressing front‑running and other forms of exploitation that stem from full transparency in onchain markets. Aster pairs this privacy layer with a performance-focused architecture, targeting ~50 ms block times, throughput above 100,000 transactions per second, and zero gas fees, positioning itself among the highest-speed networks aimed at professional and institutional traders. The project frames its launch as the start of a phased rollout dubbed “Chain Genesis,” to be followed by new partnerships, public staking for the $ASTER token, and broader ecosystem development. The chain supports cross-chain deposits from major networks such as Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, and BNB Chain at launch, integrating with existing liquidity hubs while enabling selective disclosure via a “viewer pass” system so users can reveal transaction data when needed for compliance or settlement without exposing their entire trading history. This positions Aster within a wider industry shift toward base-layer privacy infrastructure for DeFi, alongside efforts like privacy-oriented chains and Ethereum’s emerging privacy roadmaps.

✨ AI-generated background, compiled from web sources — not editorial content.

More coverage

• Privacy in Digital Assets: Zcash Surge, Aster Private Chain, and ... (sarsonfunds.com)
• Aster launches privacy-focused Layer 1 for perpetual trading as ... (cryptonews.net)
• Zero-Knowledge Proofs on Stellar: Enhancing Privacy, Scalability ... (stellar.org)
• Aster launches privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain @Aster_DEX ... (x.com)
• Aster Launches Privacy-Focused Layer 1 - "The Defiant" (thedefiant.io)

Explore the topic

• Aster
• Launch
• Zero-Knowledge
• Onchain