Aster 1x ESPORTS short trader pockets $9M profit after USDT deposit

Published: 2026-07-13 12:31:24 |

A trader on Aster built more than $9M profit from a single 1x ESPORTS short. The wallet deposited $1M USDT on June 18, opened a 1x short in ESPORTS, then closed part of the position for $4.28M in realized profit before withdrawing the original $1M. After the withdrawal, the account retained $9.05M while keeping the remaining 1x ESPORTS short open. The trade delivered an estimated 806% return in under a month. It benefited from ESPORTS’ sharp drawdown: ESPORTS traded near $0.0144, about 80% below the trader’s reported entry level, and roughly 37% down over the past week, near an all-time low (~$0.0139). With leverage limited to the 1x structure, the trader avoided liquidation pressure that higher-leverage shorts typically face. Aster also supports its perpetual market ecosystem; the article notes Aster burned 6.02M ASTER tied to upgraded tokenomics that redirect 99% of platform fees into ASTER purchases.

Neutral

This is a highly specific on-chain/perps trade on Aster. While the reported outcome is large (>$9M) and highlights the risk/reward of a 1x ESPORTS short, it is unlikely to materially change broader crypto market stability because the event is concentrated in one token and one wallet. Short-term, the news can attract attention to ESPORTS volatility and may encourage other traders to test similar 1x short setups, potentially increasing short-term order-flow in ESPORTS-related perps. However, because the position size and address are not presented as a systemic market-wide event, BTC/ETH macro moves should remain largely driven by standard market factors. Long-term, the case reinforces a common pattern from prior “successful but limited-leverage” perps stories: traders seek asymmetric returns during steep drawdowns, and platforms with robust perp liquidity can see episodic interest spikes. Aster’s tokenomics burn (ASTER fee buybacks/burn mechanics) may support platform sentiment, but it doesn’t directly translate into a broad bull/bear signal for the entire market.