Aster DEX Launches USD1-Denominated RWA Perpetual Markets with $28M Liquidity Fund

Aster DEX has officially launched its first real-world asset (RWA) perpetual markets, settling contracts entirely in USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial. This innovative move, which went live on August 20, includes five new perpetual markets covering tokenized equities and commodities, supported by a robust liquidity fund worth approximately $28 million.

The newly listed contracts, identified under Aster’s AOS-2 open listing standard, include SPCXUSD1, CLUSD1, XAUUSD1, SNDKUSD1, and SKHYNIXUSD1. These contracts represent perpetual futures on various assets, including gold and major equity indices, but are uniquely denominated and settled in USD1 instead of the more commonly used USDT.

Liquidity Fund Details

The liquidity fund backing these markets consists of 250 million WLFI tokens from World Liberty Financial and 12.5 million USD1 contributed by Aster. This combined package totals around $28 million at current market prices. As of early 2026, USD1 has established itself as a significant stablecoin with approximately $4.4 billion in circulation, now serving as the exclusive settlement asset for Aster’s RWA and commodity perpetual contracts.

Strategic Shift to USD1

Aster’s decision to exclusively use USD1 for its RWA vertical indicates a strategic pivot aimed at enhancing the trading infrastructure rather than merely competing in the stablecoin market. This collaboration not only enhances the utility of USD1 but also ties the performance of the liquidity fund to the broader World Liberty Financial ecosystem.

Since March 2026, Aster DEX and World Liberty Financial have been strengthening their partnership, initially integrating USD1 as collateral for major cryptocurrencies before expanding to RWA and commodity perpetuals. This latest development signifies a logical progression in Aster's offerings, which previously included tokenized stocks and commodities pegged to USDT.