Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao recently reaffirmed that Binance never delisted XRP, even when they faced regulatory attacks.
Zhao said this amid the ongoing discussion over crypto exchange listing fees as market commentator CJ shared details of what he claimed were Binance’s and Coinbase’s listing requirements.
Discussions around Exchange Requirements for Token Listings
Notably, in an X post, CJ compared the two exchanges, suggesting that Binance demanded several financial commitments while Coinbase only encouraged developers to build within its Base ecosystem as a requirement for listing.
CJ explained that Binance allegedly asked projects to provide airdrops, liquidity pools, and security deposits before a listing, while Coinbase only required teams to build meaningful products on Base. He used this to argue that choosing to build on Base should be an easy decision for any project founder.
Jesse Pollak, the head of Base at Coinbase, responded that exchanges should not charge anything to list a token. His comment triggered reactions across the crypto community, with some individuals accusing him of hypocrisy.
Specifically, market analyst Yazan took a jab at Pollak, saying Coinbase should first list Binance Coin (BNB) if it truly believed in equal opportunity. He implied that Coinbase’s stance meant little until it applied its own principles consistently and set an example for others.
“Binance Never Delisted XRP”
Responding to Yazan’s comment, Changpeng Zhao laughed about the situation. When a user asked him why Binance does not list new projects from the Base ecosystem, he sarcastically said they were waiting for listing fees before doing so.
However, on a more serious note, CZ added that Binance had listed every major cryptocurrency valued above $100 billion, as he sought to make a case for the exchange’s disposition toward listing proper projects without stringent requirements. He also reminded everyone that Binance never removed XRP from trading when the token came under attack.
Need a listing fee 🤣 (sarcasm)
I believe Binance listed all top coins over $100 billion market cap. 🤷♂️
Never delisted XRP (when they were attacked) either.
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) October 15, 2025
Specifically, CZ’s comment referenced the events following the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020. At the time, several U.S.-based exchanges, including Coinbase, Bittrex, and Bitstamp, suspended or removed XRP to avoid possible legal risks.
However, Binance continued supporting XRP on its global platform. Only Binance.US delisted XRP for American customers in January 2021 because of regulatory concerns, while the main Binance exchange kept the token active for international users. Coinbase and Binance.US relisted XRP after the 2023 victory.
This move became a major talking point for CZ amid the ongoing discussion. Nonetheless, the international Binance exchange faced no real regulatory pressure to delist XRP like Coinbase, as they do not serve U.S. users, so this point was not as effective. The only major U.S.-based exchange that defied this pressure and maintained support for XRP to U.S. users was Uphold.
Zhao Speaks on Exchange Listing Requirements
After speaking on XRP, CZ also shared his thoughts on listing fees. He said projects should not pay for listings if they do not feel like it, insisting that strong tokens naturally attract exchanges. According to him, if a project has to beg for a listing, it should reconsider its value and long-term potential.
Unpopular opinion post:
On Listing "Fees" (saw this a few times recently)
1. If you are a project complaining about listing airdrops or "fees" (to users),
Don't pay it.
If your project is strong, exchanges will race to list your coin.
If you have to beg an exchange to list,… https://t.co/DtEMb4RdS0
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) October 15, 2025
CZ explained that exchanges follow different business models. Some list many tokens and earn mainly from trading fees, while others charge listing or security deposits to reduce risks and prevent scams. He said none of these models are wrong and encouraged developers to focus on building solid projects instead of worrying about competitors.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
