Crypto whale 0x7771 sells $2.33 million in ASTER tokens at a 22% loss amid bearish pressure and broader market risk aversion.
A major crypto investor, identified as whale 0x7771, has exited a significant ASTER position at a notable loss. The wallet sold three million ASTER tokens for approximately $2.33 million. The opening of the position had been about two weeks ago. The sale was made at an average price of $0.78. As a result, the whale incurred a loss of around $667,000, which is 22 percent.
Whale Sell-Off Deepens ASTER Market Pressure
According to Lookonchain data, the exit represents a larger trend of risk reduction from large holders. The decision implies a focus on capital preservation instead of recovery. Moreover, several whales decreased exposure to volatile assets recently. This behavior is consistent with increasing uncertainty in the markets and decreasing investor confidence across digital assets.
Whale 0x7771 sold 3M $ASTER($2.33M) — bought two weeks ago — at an average price of $0.78 six hours ago, resulting in a loss of $667K (-22%).https://t.co/GqlBflvnN2 pic.twitter.com/hOI9FnStxS
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) December 17, 2025
Meanwhile, ASTER has been under sustained selling pressure all through Dec. The value of the token has fallen by almost 38 percent in the month. Its price recently reached three-month lows. After touching $0.73, ASTER rebounded slightly but is still volatile. At the time of reporting, the token is trading at around $0.77. However, sentiment remains shaky.
Furthermore, several large holders have reportedly taken huge losses in ASTER since mid-December. These exits have increased downward momentum. As a result, liquidity pressure mounted and contributed to more violent price swings. Analysts point out that whale activity tends to accelerate short-term trends in weak market conditions.
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The overall market situation is also difficult. Risk appetite has gone down with macroeconomic uncertainty and cautious positioning. As a result, speculative tokens have been hit relatively hard. ASTER’s performance is a reflection of this broader risk-off environment. Therefore, the whale exit seems in line with market dynamics.
Aster Protocol Developments Continue Despite Price Decline
Despite the bad price action, development on the Aster platform continues. Aster is a decentralized perpetual exchange. The protocol recently introduced “Shield Mode” which is a feature aimed at private high leverage trading. This is a tool to improve privacy and risk management for advanced traders.
In addition, the Aster team is planning to release a Layer 1 blockchain testnet by the end of this December. This initiative aims to be scalable and perform better. Developers think these upgrades could bolster the power of the platform’s long-term value proposition. However, the short-term reactions by the market are still not linked to technical progress.
Historically, such disparity between price and development has taken place during bearish cycles. Builders often continue sending updates when markets retrace. Nevertheless, investor focus at the moment is still on price stability, not innovation. Therefore, protocol announcements have not offered much immediate relief for ASTER’s valuation.
The loss of the whale highlights the dangers of volatile altcoins. Large positions can compound downside exposure in fast moving sell-offs. Capital rotation and defensive strategies have therefore become more prevalent. Market participants therefore prefer liquidity and flexibility.
Looking forward, the recovery of ASTER may depend on the sentiment in the broader market and continued protocol adoption. While innovation is ongoing, price action indicates caution is the order of the day. For now, whale exits constitute on-going stress across mid-cap tokens. This episode reinforces the importance of risk management in times of increased uncertainty.