Binance’s Yi He Defends Token Listings After CZ’s Criticism

Binance co-founder Yi He recently discussed concerns about the exchange’s token listing process, emphasizing that Binance must prioritize tokens that create real value while rejecting corruption and weak projects. Despite expanding its team, Binance still struggles with slow response times, which affects its ability to keep up with a rapidly changing market.

Yi He, one of the most influential women in the crypto industry, also serves as Binance’s Chief Marketing Officer. In a recent Chinese-language interview, she addressed issues related to the exchange’s listing criteria. She acknowledged that listing on Binance no longer delivers the same market impact as before and compared it to companies going public on Nasdaq. Binance remains one of the largest crypto exchanges, and while Coinbase listings no longer trigger major price surges, Binance listings still lead to noticeable spikes.

Yi He’s comments follow criticism from former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who called the listing process “a bit broken.” Binance faced backlash for listing low-market-cap meme coins, which often become pump-and-dump schemes. A recent example was the listing of the TST meme coin, despite CZ previously stating it wasn’t a legitimate token.

Yi He explained that Binance’s listings are based on return on investment (ROI), market performance on other exchanges, and a token’s ability to attract new users. However, she noted that investor demographics are shifting, creating new challenges. Even though Binance has expanded its listing team, response times remain slow, and the exchange must adapt to these market changes.

Yi He believes Binance must focus on listing projects with long-term value, rather than tokens that create short-term gains. Ignoring these challenges, she warned, could damage confidence in the entire crypto industry.

“If we don’t tackle these issues directly and work on improvements, pretending the problem doesn’t exist will only weaken trust in the industry. Some early blockchain entrepreneurs have even lost faith, saying, ‘Blockchain is dead.’ Many argue that over the last decade, blockchain has failed to deliver real value,” she stated.

Beyond token listings, Yi He also spoke about other aspects of Binance’s business. She emphasized that Binance Labs remains independent, despite recent restructuring. Additionally, she mentioned that Binance is actively working to rebuild relationships with US regulators.

Yi He’s statements reflect a realistic yet optimistic view of Binance’s future. While challenges remain, she believes that by focusing on meaningful projects, Binance can maintain its relevance in the evolving crypto landscape.