CZ Hailed as Crypto Savior by Binance Users While DeFi Leaders Cry Foul Play

Binance users are crowning CZ their cryptocurrency messiah—just as DeFi's top brass whisper about something far more sinister brewing beneath the surface.

The Great Divide

While retail traders shower CZ with praise for Binance's market dominance and user-friendly ecosystem, decentralized finance leaders are sounding alarm bells. They claim centralized power grabs threaten crypto's founding principles—though conveniently ignoring their own governance token controversies.

Centralization vs Decentralization: The Eternal Crypto Tango

Binance's growing influence cuts both ways. The exchange delivers seamless trading experiences that attract millions, yet simultaneously concentrates power that makes traditional bankers blush. DeFi protocols counter with transparency promises while struggling with liquidity issues that would sink any regulated institution.

The regulatory tightrope walk continues as both sides maneuver for position—proving once again that in crypto, yesterday's rebel often becomes tomorrow's establishment. Another day, another revolution getting comfortable with velvet ropes and VIP sections.

CZ’s Binance Airdrops

Since crypto’s Black Friday last week, Binance has been taking a few measures to get traders back on their feet. In addition to a $400 million support initiative, the exchange has also been airdropping BNB to rekt traders.

Binance’s $45 million in airdrops have concluded, and many traders are now praising CZ.

Just got my $BNB Airdrop
Thanks to @cz_binance .
Now moving them to @binance so they can work for me in the earnings program.#BNB the Standard!

CZ, the former CEO of Binance, still serves as a “public face” for the company, and this is especially true for the airdrop campaign. He has provided progress updates about the program through social media, turning him into a lightning rod for community reactions.

For many BNB traders, this has been a great way to rebuild trust. CZ’s reputation has suffered from a few scandals, but many of his former critics are pointing to the real benefits of Binance’s new campaign:

Everything you need to know about BNB airdrop:

• The top wallet received 33.33 BNB (address in the thread)
• So far ~40,000 wallets received the airdrop
• The airdrop really went to people that lost money trading.
• Total BNB Distributed: 8,923.10 BNB
• Minimum Received:… pic.twitter.com/AbVl6shhit

Plus, it’s not like the airdrops only helped BNB holders. BSC is a growing blockchain for meme coins, and many such traders received compensation after non-Binance assets got liquidated. This, too, helped build community goodwill.

Mounting Criticisms

Still, not everyone sees it that way. During the crash, Binance’s technical failures caused many liquidations for the platform’s users, engendering community ire.

These BNB airdrops have repaired some of the damage, but reports suggest CZ personally owns more than half of BNB’s token supply.

In other words, the airdrop could ultimately benefit CZ, who is the largest BNB whale. Resurrecting Binance’s own user liquidity isn’t a neutral gesture of community support; it’ll benefit the exchange itself first and foremost.

Note that when Binance announces "airdrops for $BNB holders" ~71% of that airdrop goes to Binance and CZ.

What's more, Forbes estimated last year that CZ owns 64% of the total $BNB supply!

It's indirect listing fee on top of other scammy fees. pic.twitter.com/m5DiBJFOgJ

Some analysts have even claimed that Binance is “hunting your liquidations,” calling CZ a “parasite” and “the biggest scammer this space has ever seen.”

Prominent users have even tried to start social media campaigns to document their grievances, reminding the community that these airdrops don’t erase the damage.

Ultimately, the proof of these arguments is in the on-chain data. Many of the biggest airdrop recipients are, by definition, huge BNB holders.

CZ gave these users far less money than they actually lost, and this deposit will help encourage them to stay on Binance’s infrastructure.

The largest airdrop in this batch is 33.333 $BNB (~$40,2K)

The recipient (0xd29…778) has unrealized losses of $275,4K

However, he still holds a $670,7K bag of $4 (CZ's main meme) https://t.co/PsXTI9mlVI pic.twitter.com/7yOeNx9ST4

It’s up to individual traders what to make of all this. The exchange could have done nothing, and these BNB airdrops have certainly benefitted some users.

However, if the campaign lets the community forget its legitimate grievances towards Binance and CZ, it’s a real problem.