The decentralized data aggregator DefiLlama quietly reinstated the decentralized exchange Aster to its listings, after previously removing it due to suspicions of inaccurate trading data. However, the project’s return was incomplete — historical metrics disappeared, leaving gaps in analytics and raising new questions about the transparency of DeFi infrastructure.
Quiet return without explanation
The reinstatement of Aster was reported by Dragonfly managing partner Haseeb Qureshi, noting that neither DefiLlama nor the Aster team made official statements. According to him, the updated data looks “fragmented” and contains “large gaps” in the statistics, which raises doubts about their reliability.
“The data has been published again, but without explanation and without history. This undermines trust in the analytics dashboards,” Qureshi wrote on X.
DefiLlama’s anonymous founder 0xngmi replied that the team still cannot confirm the accuracy of the figures. He called the situation a “black box” and emphasized that while a new data collection system is being developed, Aster requested to temporarily restore the listing.
“We are working on a solution that will add more metrics and ensure accuracy. But the process will take time, so Aster asked to be put back on the dashboard while development is ongoing,” 0xngmi explained.
History of the conflict between Aster and DefiLlama
Two weeks ago, DefiLlama excluded Aster from the rankings due to discrepancies in on-chain data. The aggregator’s developers stated that the platform did not allow them to determine exactly who was placing and executing orders, making it impossible to separate real trading activity from wash trading — fictitious trades between own wallets to inflate volumes.
The incident sparked heated discussion in the community. Aster supporters accused DefiLlama of centralization and bias, claiming the project was removed without a transparent verification process. Skeptics, on the other hand, suggested that Aster was artificially inflating trading volumes to strengthen its position in the derivatives market.
The question of trust in DeFi data
The Aster case highlighted a fundamental problem in DeFi analytics — the lack of standardized data verification. In a decentralized environment, aggregators like DefiLlama effectively become “arbiters of trust,” which contradicts the spirit of Web3.
The discussion about who should set reporting standards intensified after several projects faced similar accusations. According to analysts, the disputes around Aster demonstrate how quickly data opacity can undermine investor trust and liquidity.
Return without the past
After relisting, Aster reappeared in DefiLlama’s rankings and immediately took top positions in futures trading volume — leading in 24-hour and seven-day perpetual contract volumes. Competitors Hyperliquid and Lighter took second and third places.
Nevertheless, the lack of historical data makes it impossible to compare dynamics over previous periods. Now, charts for market share, commission fees, and cumulative revenue are displayed from zero, effectively “resetting” Aster’s history.
Experts note that for traders, analysts, and DeFi modelers who build strategies based on time series, these gaps mean loss of context and reduce model accuracy.
What experts say
According to DeFiPulse analyst Adam Benson, such cases show the need for decentralized data audit systems.
“If aggregators remain the sole providers of information, we lose the very essence of decentralization. Decisions should be verified by smart contracts, not by the opinion of individual teams,” he noted.
Other market participants believe that DefiLlama did the right thing by restoring Aster with a “partial verification” label. This allows users to see current activity but warns of possible data risks.
What’s next?
DefiLlama plans to implement a new methodology for on-chain metrics accounting, including separation by order type, participant addresses, and liquidity volumes. However, the timeline for implementation remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains around Aster. The exchange continues to show high volumes, but without verified historical data, the question remains — do these numbers reflect real activity or just another round in the race for metrics.
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