DeFi Platforms Transform User Onboarding, Posing a Challenge to Bitcoin’s Retail Leadership
- DeFi platforms like Aster and Hyperliquid are challenging Bitcoin’s dominance as retail onboarding channels via high-leverage trading and self-custody features. - Aster’s $35.868B 24-hour volume and 1,001x leverage highlight its rapid adoption, surpassing Hyperliquid’s $10.094B despite competitive fee structures. - Token incentives (e.g., Aster’s 4% Genesis rewards) and community governance drive growth, blending CEX usability with DeFi transparency to attract diverse traders. - BNB Chain’s resurgence an
Retail investors now have more ways to enter the cryptocurrency market beyond Bitcoin, as decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms are quickly becoming popular alternatives for onboarding. The emergence of perpetual decentralized exchanges (perp DEXs) such as Aster and Hyperliquid has brought advanced features like high-leverage trading, yield-generating collateral, and professional-grade tools to everyday users, transforming how people access crypto. These platforms are meeting the growing demand for self-custody and sophisticated trading options. According to DeFiLlama, Aster’s 24-hour trading volume recently hit $35.868 billion—over three times Hyperliquid’s $10.094 billion Aster Volume Surges as Perp DEX Activities Hit Record Highs [ 1 ]. This development highlights a larger movement where DeFi’s rapid innovation is challenging traditional entry points, including Bitcoin’s longstanding dominance among retail participants.
Aster, a
The expansion of these platforms is also driven by token rewards and community governance. Aster’s Genesis Stage 2 rewards program allocates 4% of its 8 billion tokens to users through Rh points, with extra bonuses for team participation. This approach, along with a 5% trading fee discount for $ASTER holders, has pushed daily trading volumes to $3.13 billion, split between centralized exchanges ($1.09 billion) and DEXs ($1.84 billion) A Look at ASTER’s Dramatic Rise: Possible Reasons … [ 2 ]. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token, despite a 5.85% drop in price over 24 hours, still sees significant activity with $605.8 million in daily trades. Experts attribute this to the platforms’ ability to combine the convenience of centralized exchanges with the openness of DeFi, attracting traders who are wary of outages and regulatory risks at traditional exchanges Perp DEX Volume Hits Record $67B as BNB’s Aster Overtakes … [ 3 ].
Shifting market trends further illustrate the growing variety of entry points for new users. In September 2025, DeFiLlama reported $67.134 billion in 24-hour perp DEX volume, up from $739.599 billion over the previous month Aster Volume Surges as Perp DEX Activities Hit Record Highs [ 1 ]. Other platforms like Lighter, EdgeX, and Paradex also posted multi-billion-dollar volumes, showing a fragmented but rapidly growing sector. This surge is supported by renewed activity on BNB Chain, which surpassed
The impact on retail onboarding is significant. DeFi platforms now offer features such as hidden orders, yield-generating collateral (like asBNB and USDF), and support for multiple blockchains, appealing to everyone from beginners to institutional investors. This broadens access and reduces dependence on
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Crypto’s Susceptibility to Quantum Attacks Revealed in North Korea’s $30 Million Breach
- South Korea's Upbit suffered a $30M hack by North Korea's Lazarus Group, exploiting Solana wallets and using multi-chain laundering to convert stolen assets into Ethereum . - Hackers employed "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" tactics, storing encrypted data for future quantum decryption, raising concerns about current encryption standards. - Dunamu halted transactions and faces potential fines, while the attack coincided with its $10.3B Naver Financial merger, sparking timing scrutiny and regulatory delays. -

Solana News Today: Solana Price Swings and Institutional Trust: $140 Emerges as Key Breakout Trigger
- Solana's price nears $140 threshold as technical indicators and record ETF inflows signal institutional-driven structural shift. - $621M in 21-day ETF inflows highlight growing institutional adoption, contrasting with Bitcoin/Ethereum outflows and positioning Solana as a long-term capital magnet. - Franklin Templeton's pending ETF filing and stable derivatives positioning suggest imminent catalysts could trigger breakout or consolidation. - Market remains in holding pattern with $140 resistance critical

XRP News Update: Regulatory Transparency Drives XRP ETF Boom, $643 Million Invested During Initial Month
- XRP ETFs saw $643M net inflows in their first month, driven by regulatory clarity and institutional demand. - Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, and Bitwise led XRP accumulation, holding 0.5% of its market cap via ETFs. - XRP ETF inflows outpaced Solana and Dogecoin , with $243M peak daily inflows boosting market pressure. - Analysts highlight XRP's cross-border payment utility as a key differentiator from speculative altcoins. - Sustained inflows could push XRP toward $3 if ETF demand mirrors Bitcoin's 2024

Institutional Investments Reflect Trust in Gen Digital as Gen Z Shows Unexpected Preparedness for Retirement
