Altcoins News

Story: Binance Changes Send FLOW and RIVER Prices Soaring 25%

By Bruce Buterin

1 / 13

Binance shook crypto markets Tuesday. The world's biggest exchange dropped major platform updates that sent several altcoins flying, with FLOW and RIVER leading gains of up to…

2 / 13

The January 28 announcement packed three big changes into one release: beefed-up Know Your Customer verification processes, slashed trading fees for select tokens, and a brutal…

3 / 13

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said the changes were "necessary to maintain the platform's reputation and ensure user safety" in Tuesday's press release.

4 / 13

The fee cuts hit different though. Binance slashed trading costs for compliant altcoins, basically rewarding projects that play by the new rules.

5 / 13

Several tokens got delisted from Binance's Alpha platform for non-compliance issues. The exchange won't say which specific standards these projects failed to meet, leaving…

6 / 13

Flow benefits from its clean compliance record and association with legitimate blockchain projects.

7 / 13

Binance's Chief Compliance Officer Samuel Lim jumped on the regulatory messaging Wednesday, saying the exchange plans to "collaborate with regulatory bodies to further enhance…

8 / 13

But here's where things get interesting: other altcoin projects are now rushing to upgrade their compliance features to avoid getting axed.

9 / 13

Investment firm Grayscale released a report Thursday noting "increased interest in altcoins that meet Binance's updated compliance criteria.

10 / 13

Binance hasn't said anything about potential relistings for the booted tokens. Affected holders are basically stuck waiting for guidance that may never come.

11 / 13

The broader trend is clear: exchanges are tightening up whether crypto traders like it or not. Binance's moves probably won't be the last major compliance shake-up this year.

12 / 13

The compliance crackdown extends far beyond Binance's platform. Coinbase implemented similar KYC enhancements last month, while Kraken announced plans to tighten asset listing…

13 / 13

Meanwhile, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported a 40% increase in exchange compliance inquiries since December.

The Currency Analytics

Want the full story?