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Decentralized exchange platform Aster has introduced a new validator-based listing vote system that allows the community to participate directly in asset listings. Under the new model, validators with at least 20 million ASTER tokens staked can propose new listings, which are then decided through on-chain voting. The launch marks Aster’s latest move toward decentralized governance and permissionless market expansion.

Introducing Listing Vote: permissionless listing on Aster.

Any Aster Chain validator with 20M $ASTER staked can propose a new listing. Proposals go to an on-chain vote, weighted by staked $ASTER.

First up: BTC/U and ETH/U perps proposed by @UTechStables. Voting runs through 22… pic.twitter.com/6GAqoivlKz

— Aster 🥷 (@Aster_DEX) May 18, 2026

Aster Introduces On-Chain Listing Governance

According to Aster, a validator with a minimum of 20 million ASTER tokens can now make proposals on adding new trading pairs to the exchange. After making such a proposal, it then enters the voting phase, which is done via the ASTER tokens staked in the platform. This is part of giving the community greater control over the trading pairs on the platform.

The listing process was referred to as the “permissionless listing” model. Rather than relying completely on the internal process, the DeFi platform has decided to include both validators and token holders in the listing process. This is a common trend in decentralized exchanges when it comes to governance-based decisions.

The voting process is influenced by the amount of the DeFi platform staked by the participating parties. This means that validators and users who have more stakes have more influence in the decision making process. According to Aster, this listing process will be influenced by long term ecosystem members.

The launch also expands the utility of the ASTER token within the network. Beyond staking and governance, the token now plays a direct role in determining which assets and perpetual markets are added to the platform.

Also Read: ASTER Price Analysis: Consolidation Phase Signals Potential Breakout to $2.42

BTC and ETH Perpetual Markets Proposed First

BTC/U and ETH/U perpetual pairs are the initial proposals under the new system. These proposals have been put forward by UTechStables and are now under voting. As per the DeFi platform, voting will be held until May 22 at 06:00 UTC.

The launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual futures via community voting can result in increased interest from investors. Perpetual futures are some of the most frequently traded financial instruments in the crypto derivatives market. By giving the community the power to make a decision about listing such assets, the DeFi platform aims to increase transparency in its expansion strategy.

The DeFi platform also had a portal for users where they could follow the process of voting and take part in it. The portal claimed that all approved listings would use this governance system in the future. This might make the process of launching new markets more community-oriented.

The community is becoming more interested in governance systems on decentralized finance platforms. Exchanges that enable users to affect the decision-making process usually attract more loyal token owners.

Validator Participation Could Shape Future Listings

The requirement of staking 20 million ASTER tokens sets a relatively high threshold for proposal submissions. This means listing proposals will likely come from established validators or large ecosystem participants. The DeFi platform may be using this structure to reduce spam proposals and maintain listing quality.

Validators play a critical role in maintaining decentralized blockchain networks. By giving them authority to propose listings, the DeFi platform is integrating governance more closely with network participation. The model could encourage validators to remain actively involved in ecosystem development.

However, the ultimate decision rests on the voting by the entire community. Although validators put forth a proposal, it must be approved sufficiently by token holders before proceeding. The goal is to strike a balance between validator control and decentralized governance.

Permissionless Listings Expand DeFi Governance Trends

The launch is indicative of larger developments that are happening in the world of decentralized finance. Several DeFi applications are shifting away from centralized control and are now using governance-based mechanisms. The concept of on-chain voting has become one of the most prominent aspects of many decentralized protocols.

A permissionless listing system could aid in faster growth in markets by limiting the reliance on a centralized system. It allows community members to gauge the need for the listing and act accordingly. This will allow decentralized exchanges to keep up with the trends in the markets.

However, governance-based systems also introduce new challenges. Large token holders may have greater influence over outcomes because of weighted voting systems. Platforms must balance decentralization with fair participation to maintain community trust.

Also Read: JPMorgan Mastercard Complete XRP Treasury Settlement on Tokenized US Assets

Toncoin (TON) has broken out of a long downtrend above key resistance now acting as support for the TON price, with strengthening bullish momentum supported by RSI and MACD signals, rising open interest, and surging volume, suggesting increased market participation and potential continuation toward higher price levels.

At the time of writing, TON is trading at $1.92 with a 24-hour trading volume of $403.66 million and a market capitalization of $5.17 billion. After the 1.56% gain over the last 24 hours, now everyone’s focus is on whether TON can maintain its momentum to push the price higher.

Source: CoinMarketCap

TON price Setup Points to a Rally Above $3

According to the crypto analyst AYMAN, the TON price has confirmed a strong breakout from its prolonged downtrend after delivering a sharp bullish price surge. 

The TON price successfully moved above a key resistance zone, which is now being retested as fresh support. Market analysts believe holding this level could strengthen bullish momentum and potentially drive TON toward the important $3 price region soon.

Source: AYMAN’s X Post

The traders are focused on the support level at which TON is currently trading. If the TON price breaks out from this level, more buyers may come into play, and this may add to the upward momentum. 

However, if TON breaks below this support level, then there is expected to be a temporary retracement.

Also Read: Toncoin Price Prediction: 32% Surge Ahead Sparks Market Frenzy

TON Technical Outlook Support Upward Potential

According to CoinMarket, the TON price is giving indications of a major change, which involves moving from an extended period of bearish pressure to a very bullish rebound. 

The TON price rose to nearly $9.00 in mid-2024 but moved down continuously, hitting a low point at about $1.20 in early 2026. Currently, there has been an impulse candle that has taken TON to $1.94.

Source: TradingView

The technical indicators are also highlighting the upward shift for the TON price. First, the RSI indicator has moved to 54.01, moving above its signal line and suggesting that there is an influx of buying pressure. 

Second, the MACD indicator features a bullish crossover below the zero line, and the histogram has long green bars.

TON Derivative Data Point to Increasing Strength

Furthermore, the open interest of TON increased by 4.86%, reaching $474.03 million, indicating that the number of traders who opened or held positions on the exchange is increasing. 

The continuous increase suggests that there is active participation in the market and that traders are confident about future movements.

Source: Coinglass

The trading volume increased by 130.55% to reach $789.99 million. Such an increase signifies a highly active market and more investors participating in the trade. 

In such a massive increase in trading volume, there is an indication that momentum will be high and traders will become more interested in market trends.

This article contains market analysis and price predictions. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always DYOR. Not financial advice.

Also Read: Toncoin Price Outlook: Will Momentum Sustain Above Critical $2.52 Level?

Ondo remains a key player in real-world asset tokenization despite bearish speculation around a deeper pullback for the ONDO price. Rising trading activity and Ondo Finance’s dominance in the expanding tokenized stock sector continue to support long-term optimism if broader crypto market conditions improve.

At the time of writing, ONDO is trading at $0.3397 with a 24-hour trading volume of $105.5 million and a market capitalization of $1.65 billion. Despite posting a 3.03% decline over the last 24 hours, rising trading volume and Ondo Finance’s dominance in tokenized stocks point to a strong bullish outlook.

Source: CoinMarketCap

ONDO Price Accumulation Could Trigger a Rally to $0.85

According to the crypto analyst Ryker, the ONDO price outlook is being discussed in crypto circles as a potential candidate for a deeper market pullback toward the $0.20 region if overall sentiment weakens. 

Traders describe this zone as a possible long-term accumulation area for the ONDO price where shakeouts could remove weaker holders before any sustained recovery begins.

Source: Ryker’s X Post

Despite all that is happening in the overall asset class, the ONDO price trend continues to attract attention due to its association with the tokenized version of traditional finance. 

If there is a comeback in terms of demand after a downturn, there are some speculative opinions that see the ONDO price moving upwards to $0.85, driven by new liquidity and a change in leadership. However, the scenario looks quite uncertain.

Also Read: ONDO Price Breaks Out of Consolidation as Bullish Momentum Targets $0.69

ONDO Derivative Data Point to Increasing Strength

However, the trading volume of ONDO increased by 35.66% to $271.97 million. The increase in volume is an indicator of higher participation and greater interest on the part of traders, which is a positive sign in terms of liquidity and activity in the market.

Source: Coinglass

The open interest remains unchanged at $153.52M, which means that there is no significant change in the number of contracts held by the traders, implying that there is not much movement on either side as far as taking up positions or unwinding them is concerned.

Ondo Finance Captures 63% of Tokenized Stock Market

The data from Tokens in Solana further highlighted that the tokenized equity market has finally exceeded a market capitalization of $1.5 billion on-chain, marking one of the fastest-growing industries within the crypto space at around 40x year-over-year growth. 

This trend is fueled by increasing interest in blockchain technology to gain access to real-world equities as investors continue their move towards tokenization.

Source: Tokens on Solana’s X Post

Ondo Finance is among the leaders in the tokenized stocks space, holding a market share of 63.1% and positioning itself as the dominant player within an industry growing rapidly. 

The analysts believe that the growth of the tokenized stocks market is not just a temporary phenomenon but a part of a larger effort to tokenize conventional financial instruments to attract institutional players into DeFi.

This article contains market analysis and price predictions. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always DYOR. Not financial advice.

Also read: ONDO Price Breakout Signals Strong Move After $2 Billion Surge in Market Cap

IOTA is stabilizing after a long decline, forming a potential base near support. Momentum indicators are improving, while volume and participation are rising. The IOTA price remains in consolidation, with any upside move still requiring confirmation from stronger bullish structure.

At the time of writing, IOTA is trading at $0.05510 with a 24-hour trading volume of $14.07 million and a market capitalization of $246.29 million. Despite posting a 1.12% decline over the last 24 hours, IOTA is forming a base near key support, which could push the price to new highs in the coming days.

Source: CoinMarketCap

IOTA Price Rebound Signals Potential Recovery

According to the crypto analyst Jonathan Carter, IOTA is showing early recovery signals after rebounding from key support within a descending 3-day channel. 

The IOTA price action has stabilized at the lower boundary, suggesting weakening bearish pressure. Buyers are stepping in, and rising volume hints at renewed interest as the market attempts to form a short-term base structure.

Source: Jonathan Carter’s X Post

With regards to momentum, the IOTA price could make a push towards a series of resistances that are at $0.062, $0.076, $0.100, $0.120, $0.150, $0.175, $0.205, and $0.255. 

These represent levels that could act as resistance zones where the IOTA price may either consolidate or reverse. However, the overall direction remains bearish; therefore, for any bullish move to materialize, there must be an increase in volume and price structure.

Also Read: IOTA Price Stabilizes at $0.057: Is a Major Rally to $0.25 Coming Next?

IOTA Technical Indicators Point to a Base Formation

According to TradingView, the IOTA price action has plunged to a brutal markdown level, but it is now forming a bottoming pattern. 

The IOTA price action dropped steadily from the $0.24000 level in late 2025 down to the macro-level support at the $0.05000 level in early 2026. After that, selling interest declined, and the price action was trading horizontally.

Source: TradingView

Alongside the stabilization in the IOTA price, the indications show that the downward pressure is reducing. The RSI is now slowly moving from the oversold level to 40.95 while the MACD continues its upward trend following a bullish crossover. 

While the buy volume remains small, the indication suggests that there is stabilization on the sharp decline that was witnessed before with no trigger direction.

IOTA Derivative Data Point to Bullish Momentum

However, IOTA’s open interest increased slightly to 2.27%, reaching a total of $16.86 million, indicating that there is a slight increase in the number of open derivatives. It means traders are becoming slightly more dedicated despite consistent market involvement.

Source: Coinglass

The trading volume increased by 15.96% to reach $20.20 million. This suggests that there will be greater trading activity and liquidity in the asset, meaning that there is an increase in the number of people interested in the asset.

This article contains market analysis and price predictions. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always DYOR. Not financial advice.

Also Read: IOTA Price Analysis: Bullish FVG Retest Signals Breakout Toward $0.0671

Japan bonds market came under heavy pressure on May 18 as long-term yields surged to record levels. The 30-year JGB yield reached about 4.2%, while the 10-year yield climbed to 2.8%, its highest level since 1996.

The sell-off reflected growing worries about inflation, public debt, and fiscal stability in Japan. Higher oil prices, the potential for new borrowing, and the waning demand for long-dated government debt also had an impact on investors.

Also Read: Microsoft AI Warns Massive 18-Month Job Automation Shock

Japan Bonds Weaken as Borrowing Fears Grow

The pressure rose when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that her government is planning to approve a supplementary budget. According to a local media report, the plan could support households and businesses through fresh fiscal measures.

That proposal raised expectations that Japan may issue more deficit-covering bonds. This put further pressure on an already under performing market and a lack of confidence in the future supply of debt.

At a foreign securities firm in Japan, one official commented that no investors were interested in purchasing bonds. The official also stated that the long-term interest rates would likely be on the rise.

Japan bonds are closely monitored as the debt load in the country is still high. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently assessed that Japan’s gross public debt level had exceeded 200% of GDP.

The IMF projects that the debt ratio will gradually diminish over the medium term. Instead, investors are turning to the possibility of new spending that might lead to greater deficits or slower fiscal healing.

Oil Price Surge Adds Pressure on Global Bonds

The Japanese bond sell-off is also following the pressure in other major bond markets. Investors responded to inflation concerns and shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy by driving U.S. Treasury yields higher.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased as much as 3.6 basis points to 4.631%. The market data show that this was the top level since February 2025.

The two-year U.S. yield touched a 14-month high of 4.105%. The 30-year Treasury also hit a record high of 5.159% for the year.

Oil prices continued to put pressure on markets. Brent crude climbed to $111 per barrel after talks to end the Iran war broke down after a drone attack on a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.

Japan Bonds Pressure Spreads to Yen Market

Markets now see a more than 50% chance that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by December. Before the war, investors had expected rate cuts this year.

The pressure on Japan bonds also spilled over to the currency market. The dollar briefly rose above 159 yen in Tokyo trading, marking its highest level since April 30.

Eugene Leow, senior rates strategist at DBS, said that the bond market sentiment had been dampened by further fiscal measures from the Japanese government. He said the move is falling within a broader repricing trend on yield curves throughout the region.

This further weakened eurozone bonds in the broader selloff. Germany’s 10-year bond yield touched a 15-year high of 3.193% for the second week in a row.

Also Read: BNB ETF Nears Launch After Strong Filing of Amended S-1 prospectuses with SEC

Kraken parent Payward reported $507 million in adjusted revenue for the first quarter of 2026, despite weaker crypto-trading conditions. The company said product growth, acquisitions, and service expansion helped support performance during a difficult market period.

According to the official release, Payward is expanding beyond spot crypto trading. The company is building across derivatives, tokenized assets, payments infrastructure, and other financial services as it works to reduce dependence on market cycles.

Also Read: Kraken Selects Chainlink CCIP for Cross-Chain kBTC

Kraken Parent Payward Trading Volume Reaches $357B

Kraken parent Payward said total trading volume reached $357 billion in the quarter. The outcome coincided with BTC dropping about 22%, and the overall cryptocurrency market experiencing a decline of approximately 23%.

Industry spot trading volume also fell by some 38% over the same period. Nonetheless, Kraken’s market share on the spot market has increased from approximately 3.5% in mid-2025 to 5.2% in March 2026.

Payward revealed that it held around 59% of its highest trading volume, as compared to previous cycles. During the weaker market period, the company added that this level is better than many of its competitors.

Futures trading was one of the stronger areas for the business. Futures DARTs rose 51% driven by platform development, NinjaTrader, and Breakout and the overall expansion of futures products.

Kraken parent Payward also reported about $18 million in adjusted EBITDA. The reduced profit level was deliberate, as the company continued to invest in products, technology, and regulatory systems,” the company said.

“We’re not optimizing for today’s EBITDA. We’re building what we believe wins tomorrow.” Payward co-CEO Arjun Sethi said in the company update.

Payward Platform Assets Reach $40B 

The firm reported that now it has approximately $40 billion in assets on the platform. This was up 11% from the previous year, and funded accounts grew 47% to 6.1 million.

Kraken parent Payward also expanded through acquisitions during the quarter. In January 2026 it acquired Backed Finance to enable tokenized stocks, and then in February it bought Magna to enable token distribution and lifecycle management.

The company also announced the launch of stock trading on Kraken Desktop. It had added futures markets in oil and gold as well as stock indexes and also yield products and expanded margin trading.

Payward was also continuing to grow its tokenized equities product, xStocks. The product is designed to grow to more than 500 assets over time, the company said.

Kraken parent Payward noted that its broader vision is for the integration of trading, settlement, and payments all within a single financial system. It also finished its quarterly Proof of Reserves as of March 31, 2026.

The reserve review allows users to check that customer funds are fully backed. Payward stated the verification was based on on-chain data and checked by an independent accounting firm.

Also Read: Strategy Bitcoin Purchase Adds 24,869 BTC, Holdings Reach 843,738 BTC

Standard Chartered Plc plans to acquire Zodia Custody’s crypto custody business after shareholder and noteholder approval of its non-binding offer. The deal will strengthen its institutional digital asset strategy. Zodia’s infrastructure unit will continue separately as Zodia Solutions under a SaaS model led by Julian Sawyer, with Standard Chartered’s venture arm as the majority owner.

Standard Chartered Moves to Consolidate Zodia Custody

Standard Chartered Plc has moved forward with its plan to acquire the crypto custody business of its majority-owned subsidiary Zodia Custody Ltd.

The non-binding offer has been accepted by Zodia Custody shareholders and noteholders, according to a statement issued on Monday. The proposed deal was earlier reported by Bloomberg in April.

Zodia Custody was launched in 2021 with backing from Standard Chartered and other institutional partners. The acquisition would bring full control of the custody operations under the bank’s structure.

This step strengthens Standard Chartered’s digital asset strategy and deepens its involvement in regulated crypto services. It also reflects a broader shift among global banks toward building in-house custody capabilities for institutional clients.

Also Read: Tom Lee Says Ethereum Price Outlook Can Strengthen Through 2026

Expansion Plan for Institutional Digital Asset Services

The combined custody platform is expected to support expansion into key regulated markets, including the United Kingdom and Australia.

Margaret Harwood-Jones, global head of financing and securities services, clarified that the merger would enhance the provision of institutional quality custody services.

Standard Chartered Bank intends to serve large investors such as asset managers, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds who require the safekeeping of their digital assets.

With the evolution of regulatory policies and increasing participation by financial institutions in the industry, there has been an increase in demand for institutional custody services.

The focus of the strategy adopted by the bank is to scale up the services offered on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum in a regulated environment.

Zodia Solutions Structure and Competitive Landscape

After completion of the transaction, the infrastructure business unit of Zodia will move forward independently as an entity named Zodia Solutions.

The newly formed unit will be a software-as-a-service company that will focus on digital asset infrastructure under the leadership of Julian Sawyer, the CEO of Zodia Custody.

Venture capital arm of Standard Chartered will be the dominant shareholder in Zodia Solutions. Negotiations are currently underway to include existing investors like Northern Trust Corp., Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, National Australia Bank Ltd., and SBI Holdings Inc.

The separation will maintain clear demarcations between custody and infrastructure services. The market for institutional crypto custody is extremely competitive, with companies like BNY Mellon, State Street, Coinbase Custody, BitGo, and Fireblocks expanding their market presence.

Also Read: Iran Launches Hormuz Safe Platform Settling Maritime Insurance in Bitcoin