The fierce competition between Binance and Coinbase has sparked once more, following a public appeal from Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), urging Coinbase to list additional BNB Chain projects.
This statement followed Coinbase’s recent addition of BNB to its listing roadmap, indicating plans to embrace the Binance token.
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CZ Urges Coinbase to Feature More BNB Chain Projects
CZ advocates for mutual support between the two major centralized exchanges, Binance and Coinbase. His remarks on X (Twitter) came amid growing discussions surrounding listing transparency, fees, and fair practices between CEXs.
“I would encourage Coinbase to list more BNB chain projects. Binance has included several Base projects. I don’t believe Coinbase has listed any BNB chain projects yet, despite it being a more active chain. This isn’t a trade; it’s just a suggestion regarding the importance of openness and inclusivity. It could also benefit the exchange,” CZ stated.
CZ’s remarks were a response to a trending discussion highlighting a contentious series of events: Coinbase’s Jesse Pollak, the creator of Base, had commented on listing fees, followed by a Base project founder alleging that Binance demanded high fees for listings.
The discussion has evolved into what X (Twitter) users refer to as the “CEX listing wars.”
Coinbase’s decision to add BNB to its official listing roadmap represents a rare instance of interaction between two primary competitors, indicating a potential shift toward openness with strategic consequences.
As noted by BeInCrypto, Coinbase indicated that the listing would depend on technical feasibility and market-making needs, which might delay the full activation of trading.
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Nonetheless, the announcement has sparked speculation: Is Coinbase genuinely showing goodwill, or simply leveraging the media attention?
Listing Wars Revealing CEX Rivalries
The dispute has captured the attention of the broader industry, with critics accusing Binance of imposing high listing fees and engaging in selective practices.
Simultaneously, Coinbase faces criticism for alleged hypocrisy, portraying itself as transparent and accessible while historically being slow to include non-Ethereum ecosystem tokens.
Cecilia Hsueh, Chief Strategy Officer at MEXC exchange, offered a more practical perspective.
“At MEXC, our core principle is straightforward — list more, list fast to meet user demand. We do charge a listing fee, but it’s minimal, likely the lowest among major CEXs, and primarily helps projects promote their launches,” she remarked on X.
Hsueh highlighted that exchanges operate under different business models depending on their growth stages and liquidity, suggesting that fee-based models can be fair.
This balanced view resonates amidst the increasing divide between Binance and Coinbase supporters.
Coinbase’s acknowledgment of BNB—even in a symbolic capacity—indicates a movement towards interoperability rather than isolation, a direction increasingly urged by users and regulators alike.
However, beneath the veneer of collaboration, the “listing wars” reveal a persistent reality for crypto exchanges. The battle for liquidity and narrative supremacy is intense, and even gestures of cooperation often harbor strategic intentions.
