Binance Transparency Under Fire: Yi He Defends Listing Practices

As centralized exchanges face increasing pressure, a controversy surrounding Binance erupts regarding the transparency of its listing policies. Indeed, Binance co-founder Yi He has spoken out to clarify the platform’s practices in response to severe accusations made by Moonrock Capital, a consulting firm specializing in crypto investments. The matter unveils underlying tensions surrounding the governance of exchanges and their ability to convince investors of their impartiality.

Clarifications on Binance’s Listing Policy

Yi He, co-founder of Binance, defended the platform on X, in response to claims made by Simon Dedic, CEO of Moonrock Capital, who accused Binance of requiring 15% of the total token supply for certain projects to be listed on the exchange. Thus, Yi He replied, emphasizing that “Binance does not ask for any percentage of tokens or fixed fees for new listings.” She reminded that, since 2018, all donations associated with listings are fully donated to charities, and adds that each project is free to propose the amount of its donation without any minimum amount required. “There are no hidden fees or imposed percentages,” she stressed, insisting on the transparency of Binance’s practices.

This statement from Yi He comes at a time when centralized exchanges are increasingly scrutinized by the crypto community seeking ethical practices and transparency. Binance has chosen to promote a distinct policy, as the platform asks projects to decide on the amount of their donation during listings, in order to avoid any suspicion of opaque business practices. By giving this independence to projects, Binance seeks to stand out in an industry where accusations of high fees and imposed conditions have often tarnished the reputation of exchanges.

Reactions and Implications in the Crypto Industry

Yi He’s statement was not enough to quell industry criticism, and some influential figures have reacted. They highlight what they perceive as a recurring issue on centralized platforms. Andre Cronje, co-founder of Sonic, added his viewpoint to the debate. He criticizes Binance, but also Coinbase for similar practices, reminding that “centralized exchanges often charge high fees and impose restrictive conditions for their listings.” These accusations broadly target centralized exchanges and highlight dissatisfaction from some developers who are now favoring decentralized alternatives to escape the pressures from traditional exchanges.

Moreover, these criticisms come amid a challenging context for centralized exchanges, whose trading volumes have significantly decreased in recent months. According to data from CCData, Binance recorded a 23% drop in trading volumes in September 2024, while other major exchanges like OKX, HTX, and Kraken experienced similar declines. This downturn can be attributed to several factors, including geopolitical uncertainties, the rise of decentralized exchanges, and growing distrust among users regarding the practices of centralized exchanges.

Faced with increasing pressure from the crypto community, the need for greater transparency and better ethics has become imperative for centralized exchanges. If Binance and other centralized platforms want to regain the trust of projects and investors, they will undoubtedly have to rethink their practices and adapt to the new expectations of users. The emergence of decentralized platforms could, in parallel, become an increasingly credible alternative, as it tests the model of traditional exchanges in the coming months.