Binance Cracks Down on Fake Listing Agents, Tightens Token Listing Rules

Binance has reformed its token listing process, banning third-party intermediaries and publishing a blacklist of individuals accused of posing as authorized agents. The world’s largest crypto exchange announced strict new controls aimed at restoring trust and curbing abuses tied to token launches.

Binance has released an announcement outlining its listing process and framework, covering the Alpha, futures, and spot markets. Binance emphasizes that projects must submit listing applications directly through official channels, and third-party intermediaries are strictly…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 17, 2025

The exchange identified several individuals and firms falsely presenting themselves as listing facilitators. Those named include BitABC, Central Research, May/Dannie, Andrew Lee, Suki Yang, Fiona Lee, and Kenny Z. Binance stated it will pursue legal action against anyone involved in such deceptive practices.

Third-party deal brokers are now strictly prohibited from facilitating any listings on the platform. The announcement follows years of criticism over opaque listing procedures that enabled scammers to exploit project teams seeking exchange access.

Despite recent market softness, Binance continues to record approximately $11.13 billion in 24-hour trading volume. The exchange supports more than 440 listed tokens across over 1,600 trading pairs, reinforcing why a listing remains highly coveted in the industry.

New Standards Reshape Listing Pathways Across Binance Markets

The revised criteria apply across Binance’s Alpha, futures, and spot markets. This creates a more structured path for projects seeking exchange access. Each market tier now serves distinct purposes within the listing framework.

The Alpha platform targets early-stage tokens, offering exposure through pre-TGE programs and prime sales. Community events, airdrops, and booster initiatives help build momentum ahead of broader launches on the main exchange.

Binance’s futures platform continues serving traders seeking to hedge risk or take directional positions on token prices. Meanwhile, the spot market remains the core venue for direct trading and long-term holding strategies.

Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer airdrops support projects demonstrating active development and credible teams. Engaged communities are now a prerequisite for consideration under the updated evaluation process.

The overhaul addresses sustained criticism of listing practices over the past two years. Previously, token listings were announced just hours before trading began. This triggered sharp price moves on decentralized exchanges before volatile sell-offs once Binance trading opened.

The exchange also faced pushback for listing speculative or low-quality projects that failed to deliver lasting value. Such listings added to investor losses and eroded confidence in the platform’s vetting procedures.

Founder Allegations Prompt Policy Clarifications

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao publicly acknowledged the listing process was flawed earlier this year. His admission came amid mounting pressure from the crypto community over transparency concerns.

TST got listed on Binance. A few thoughts:

1. CZ said “fundamentals”, then talks about a test coin turned meme coin.

I posted to clarify that TST was NOT endorsed by me/us. It was just a test token used in a video tutorial. But every clarification post just made it more viral…

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) February 9, 2025

Following this acknowledgement, Binance introduced stricter due diligence requirements for prospective listings. Community voting mechanisms now influence both listing and delisting decisions on the platform.

A monitoring zone was established for projects falling short of disclosure or activity standards. This tier subjects underperforming tokens to enhanced scrutiny and potential removal from the exchange.

Concerns have also surfaced directly from crypto project founders. In October, Limitless founder CJ Hetherington alleged Binance demanded an 8% token allocation and $2 million to secure a listing.

Hetherington also claimed post-listing token dumping occurred after securing exchange access. Binance initially rejected these allegations and threatened legal action against the founder.

The exchange later clarified aspects of its token allocation practices in response to the controversy. Binance maintains it does not profit directly from listing fees charged to projects.

According to Binance, token allocations are used for marketing efforts, airdrops, and user-focused incentives. The exchange states these allocations are not retained by Binance itself.

Even with ongoing controversy, many founders still view Binance as the most influential launchpad in crypto. The updated rules signal the exchange is attempting to clean up its listing pipeline.

Shortcuts, middlemen, and backroom deals are no longer welcome under the new framework. The policy changes represent Binance’s most significant listing reforms since the exchange launched over seven years ago.