By Key Points
- Binance Token Listings CZ Defends 4 Meme Coins Amid Criticism
- Binance faces backlash for listing low-cap meme coins with little community backing.
- CZ argues listings shouldn’t impact long-term price performance.
- Critics claim CEXs list tokens for fees, not quality.
- Debate heats up between centralized vs decentralized listing models.
The crypto community is divided over Binance token listings, especially following the surprise addition of four meme coins from the BNB Chain. While Binance aims to increase liquidity and accessibility, critics say these listings lower the bar for quality, stirring more volatility and speculation.
Crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen called out centralized exchanges (CEXs) for a growing contradiction: promoting long-term investing while regularly listing what he called “useless garbage coins.” His comments reflect a rising concern among investors who feel CEXs are drifting from due diligence in favor of hype.
They want volume and fees and list when it’s hit and delist when it gets cold
CEXs this cycle have been showing us why DEXs are the future
— Justis (@inversedpowers) March 28, 2025
Similarly, Colin Talks Crypto argued that the primary goal of many token listings is profit via transaction fees, not supporting valuable projects. Many believe that CEXs are timing listings with market trends — listing when interest is high and delisting when volume fades.
This aligns with Binance’s own delisting policies, which revolve around liquidity and volume thresholds. But for critics, that only reinforces the belief that trading volume — not project fundamentals — drives listing decisions.
Influencer Leonidas took it further, blasting Binance for overlooking stronger community coins in favor of low-cap tokens with insider control.
URGENT MESSAGE TO BINANCE LEADERSHIP
CC: @CZ_BINANCE @HEYIBINANCE @_RICHARDTENG
WTF IS GOING ON AT YOUR COMPANY
YOUR LISTING TEAM JUST SPOT LISTED FOUR LOW CAP INSIDER CONTROLLED MEMECOINS THAT NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD OF
ONE OF THE COINS HAS ACTUALLY GONE DOWN SINCE IT WAS…
— Leonidas 🧡 $DOG (@LeonidasNFT) March 27, 2025
Some speculate that exchanges might accumulate tokens quietly before listing — only to sell them when hype builds. That fuels the ongoing tension between centralized and decentralized platforms.
In comparison, DEX models like PancakeSwap and others let anyone list a token, giving the market power to decide its fate. It’s a trustless, permissionless system that’s gaining popularity for transparency.
Some crypto exchanges are listing shittier and shittier coins
They’ll tell you to focus on fundamentals and long-term investing one day, and then list the most useless garbage no one has even heard of the next
— Benjamin Cowen (@intocryptoverse) March 28, 2025
CZ Says Market Should Decide Long-Term Value
Despite the backlash, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance’s founder, defended the company’s listing choices. He insisted that short-term price movements post-listing don’t reflect a project’s long-term value.
“Listings can affect short-term prices,” CZ said. “But in the long term, it’s the project’s development that matters.”
CZ also backed a market desensitization theory, shared by analyst Jason Chen. According to this view, frequent listings will erode the so-called “listing effect,” where coins surge purely due to new exposure. As this effect fades, hype-based trading could decline.
Source – 陈剑Jason – Techtoken
Binance’s listing process includes checks on development activity, smart contract safety, and team commitment. But CZ emphasized that the real future lies in user choice, which is why Binance recently expanded to include decentralized listing options through Binance Wallet.
The move allows some tokens to bypass centralized listings entirely — a shift CZ says is a step closer to the decentralized model. This aligns with Binance’s aim to let users decide value in the open market.
However, not everyone agrees. Crypto trader Paul Wei argued that listings indirectly impact long-term value by improving token visibility and liquidity.
“More liquidity means more trading,” said Wei. “And that affects project momentum and development
These tensions were highlighted during the JELLY token controversy, where insiders were suspected of manipulating the market post-listing. The incident only deepened skepticism around the integrity of CEX listing practices.
CEX vs DEX – The Battle for Market Trust
The broader debate now centers on whether centralized or decentralized exchanges better serve users and the market.
In the CEX model, teams like Binance’s carefully curate which tokens to list and delist. While this helps screen low-quality projects, critics argue that it also gives too much power to centralized entities — opening doors for manipulation and insider gains.
On the other hand, DEX platforms let any token go live without permissions, leaving users to judge their merit. But that also introduces risk, as scams and rug pulls can slip through easily.
CZ recently noted that Coinbase’s listing of BNB perpetual futures was based solely on the token’s merit, not politics or preference. He also said Binance is working on involving users more in listing and delisting decisions, aiming for a more democratic approach.
Meanwhile, controversial moves like CZ’s 125 BNB direct messaging feature and quarterly events like the options expiry with $14B on the line continue to influence market sentiment — showing just how powerful centralized influence still is.
As new meme coins get listed and projects gain traction (or criticism), one thing is clear: the crypto world is still wrestling with what fairness and transparency look like in 2025. Whether that comes through Binance’s evolving tools or full-on decentralized systems, only time will tell.
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