BNB Chain reclaims top spot by active addresses as Aster Protocol’s total value locked jumps 570% to $2.34 billion.Key TakeawaysBNB price surged over 4%, hitting an intraday high of $1,223 as volume and institutional interest spiked.BNB Chain regained its position as the most-used blockchain, logging 52.5 million active addresses in September.Aster Protocol TVL soared 570% to $2.34 billion, driving decentralized trading activity.Despite late-session profit-taking, BNB held above $1,200, signaling continued bullish momentum.BNB Price Rally Driven by Network Growth and Institutional FlowsBNB, the native token of the BNB Chain and a key asset used for trading fee discounts on Binance, rallied sharply in the past 24 hours — rising over 4% to reach $1,223 before consolidating near $1,201.The rally was fueled by institutional demand, surging on-chain activity, and a rise in decentralized trading volume across the BNB ecosystem. According to TokenTerminal, the BNB Chain recorded 52.5 million active addresses in September, surpassing Solana for the first time since August.A major driver behind the surge was Aster Protocol, a fast-growing decentralized trading and lending platform on BNB Chain. Data from DeFiLlama shows that Aster’s total value locked (TVL) soared 570% over the past month to reach $2.34 billion, underscoring rising DeFi participation and network utility.Institutional Adoption Adds Fuel to BNB’s MomentumInstitutional activity also played a key role in supporting BNB’s latest breakout. Kazakhstan’s state-backed Alem Crypto Fund and electric vehicle manufacturer Jiuzi Holdings both added BNB to their treasuries, signaling growing recognition of BNB as a long-term strategic asset.Meanwhile, retail momentum was visible across social media and speculative trading. A notable memecoin trader reportedly turned a $3,000 investment into nearly $2 million following renewed interest sparked by a post from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ).BNB’s rally also coincided with macro tailwinds, including expectations of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut later this month and a recent BNB Chain upgrade that reduced minimum gas fees to 0.05 Gwei, improving transaction efficiency and user experience.Technical Analysis: BNB Holds Above Key Support After Testing ResistanceAccording to CoinDesk Research’s technical model, BNB traded between $1,148.12 and $1,223.08 during the session, closing at $1,201.13, up 2.27% on the day.The breakout above $1,200 was accompanied by a fivefold spike in trading volume, marking a decisive move through resistance before a brief retracement. The $1,223 level now stands as a key resistance zone, while strong support was identified in the $1,148–$1,158 range, where repeated buying pressure signaled institutional accumulation.Although a late-session pullback emerged after testing $1,215, high-volume data suggests profit-taking rather than a trend reversal. BNB’s ability to close above $1,200 indicates a sustained bullish bias and potential for continuation in the short term.BNB’s Uptrend Intact Despite VolatilityAnalysts note that BNB’s broader trend remains firmly bullish, supported by steady network growth, increasing institutional inflows, and a resilient DeFi sector on the BNB Chain.As long as BNB maintains its higher lows and holds above $1,200, the asset remains well-positioned for further gains, with potential upside targets in the $1,250–$1,280 range.The combination of strong on-chain fundamentals, accelerating ecosystem growth, and institutional participation continues to reinforce BNB’s standing as one of the strongest-performing altcoins of 2025.