On January 19, 2026, Aster activated a new on-chain buyback program, allocating up to 40% of daily fees from perpetuals and Shield Mode toward $ASTER repurchases.
Combined with the existing Stage 5 buybacks, up to 80% of daily fees now support token demand.
These mechanisms have already burned 209 million $ASTER tokens, reducing supply and boosting scarcity.
Since the buybacks started, over $140 million has been spent on buybacks so far, and all activity is fully trackable on-chain.
The transparency involved in the buyback programs has helped restore confidence in $ASTER amid concerns over supply concentration.
With 97% of tokens held by the top 100 addresses, market participants had feared manipulation.
But CZ’s recent post on X of his Aster staking activity has reassured traders.
The Binance founder’s involvement is seen as a bullish signal by many in the crypto community.
Technical analysis
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$ASTER’s price has stabilised above the 7-day SMA at $0.619 and the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $0.623.
Momentum indicators show bearish momentum, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 43 and the MACD histogram, though above zero, still signals weak momentum.
$ASTER price chart | Source: TradingView
While analysts are capitalising on the oversold bounce potential, the resistance near $0.69 and $0.718 could cap the resulting gains.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Q1 2026 mainnet launch and staking integration add longer-term narrative support.
Despite $ASTER’s 39% 90-day decline, these developments may attract accumulation from holders betting on Aster Chain’s growth.
Circulating supply stands at 2.57 billion $ASTER, with 6.35 billion tokens yet to unlock, highlighting ongoing risks.
The key $ASTER price levels to watch
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As January 2026 comes to an end, traders should monitor the support at $0.65, as holding above this level is crucial for any further bullish momentum.
In case of a sustained bull rally, the key resistance levels to watch include $0.69 (which corresponds with the 50% Fibonacci retracement level) and $0.718 (which corresponds to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level).
A breakout above these levels could signal a more sustained bullish reversal.
However, in case of a pullback below $0.65, the next support lies at $0.573.
Looking further ahead, long-term forecasts suggest $ASTER could reach between $1.06 and $3.56 by the end of 2026.
This range reflects the potential upside if buybacks, CZ backing, and ecosystem growth align favourably.
Volume trends are also important, as $148 million in 24-hour trading activity shows growing interest.
Investors should track fee revenue, buyback execution, and mainnet updates for clues on whether the rally can be maintained.