Aster vs MetaMask Comparison
| 0% maker / 0.04% taker (USDT perps) | Fees | Depends on integrated perp provider (avg 0.02–0.06%) |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, including all fees and spreads.
| 0% maker / 0.04% taker (USDT perps) | Fees | Depends on integrated perp provider (avg 0.02–0.06%) |
Pros & Cons
- 0% maker fee on perpetuals
- Four chains — BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana and Arbitrum — from one interface
- Collateral can keep earning yield while positions stay open
- Non-custodial with on-chain settlement
- No KYC for on-chain trading
- No EU authorisation
- 1001x leverage marketing sets an unrealistic anchor
- Liquidity thinner than the volume leaders in smaller markets
- Tax reporting rests entirely with the user
- Perpetual trading without leaving the MetaMask wallet
- Execution through the Hyperliquid order book
- Fee openly disclosed, no hidden spread
- One-click funding from various EVM chains
- Self-custody, no KYC
- 0.1% builder fee on top of the executing order book's own fee
- Trading directly on Hyperliquid is noticeably cheaper
- No EU authorisation
- Blocked in several countries including the US and the UK
Score Comparison
Features
- Maker fee at 0% since February 2026
- Four chains in one trading interface
- Yield-bearing collateral
- CEX-grade order-book experience
- Out of beta since April 2026
- One-click funding from any EVM chain
- Transparently disclosed additional fee
- Leverage up to 50x
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
Since February 2026 no maker fees apply on perpetual contracts; takers pay 0.04% on USDT-margined perpetuals and considerably less on USD1 perpetuals. Perpetuals on tokenised equities carry no trading fee. Network fees of the chain in use apply on top and vary by chain. As of August 2026.
On top of the executing order book's fee — 0.015% maker and 0.045% taker at entry tier — sits a builder fee of 0.1% that MetaMask discloses openly. No additional swap markup applies on deposit. In total the wallet route is considerably more expensive than trading directly on the order book. As of August 2026.
Usability & User Experience
The interface follows centralised exchange conventions and is quick to navigate for anyone with futures experience. Access is by wallet connection without registration. Traders using several chains need to watch collateral and gas conditions on each. As of August 2026.
The main advantage is skipping account opening and bridge transfers: existing MetaMask users can start without registration. The perpetuals interface is deliberately leaner than a full futures terminal, which eases entry but limits advanced functionality. As of August 2026.
Features & Offering
Aster combines perpetuals on cryptocurrencies with perpetuals on tokenised equities and metals. Alongside market, limit, stop-loss and take-profit orders it offers hidden orders and grid trading. A distinguishing feature is yield-bearing collateral: posted capital can continue to earn while a position stays open. As of August 2026.
Trading runs from the MetaMask interface and is executed through Hyperliquid. Positions can be funded in one click from various EVM chains. Alongside market, limit, stop-loss and take-profit orders, partial position closes are possible, and leverage reaches 50x. As of August 2026.
Details
| Aster (merger of Astherus & APX Finance) | Company | Consensys + integrated partners |
| Seychelles | Headquarters | United States |
Verdict
Both providers are practically level in our overall rating (4.7 to 4.7).
Aster emerged from the merger of Astherus and APX Finance and positions itself as the multi-chain alternative to single-chain perpetual DEXs. Trading spans BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana and Arbitrum, settlement stays on-chain and custody stays with the user.
On pricing, Aster moved in February 2026: makers pay 0% on perpetuals, takers 0.04% on USDT-margined perpetuals, and perpetuals on tokenised equities carry no trading fee at all. Collateral posted in certain forms continues to earn yield while a position is open.
The advertised 1001x leverage is mainly a marketing signal and is barely usable in practice — liquidation thresholds at that level are extremely tight. The platform holds no EU authorisation; perpetuals sit outside MiCA in any case, and tax reporting rests entirely with the user. Aster is worth a look for experienced traders who want several chains from one interface.
MetaMask brought perpetual trading into its own wallet and took it out of beta in April 2026. Execution is not handled by MetaMask but by Hyperliquid in the background, so users trade on the largest perpetual order book without leaving the wallet and without a separate account.
Convenience carries a clearly stated price: MetaMask charges an openly disclosed builder fee of 0.1% on top of Hyperliquid's own fee, which starts at 0.015% maker and 0.045% taker. Trading directly on Hyperliquid is therefore markedly cheaper — what you give up is one-click access from inside the wallet.
Access is blocked in the US, the UK, Ontario and Belgium. The platform holds no EU authorisation; perpetuals sit outside MiCA in any case, and tax reporting rests entirely with the user. The route makes sense for users already working inside MetaMask who value convenience over the last few basis points.