Pi Network’s Binance Listing Hopes Dim Amid Exchange Silence
Despite overwhelming community support, Pi Network’s aspirations for a Binance listing face significant challenges as the exchange remains unresponsive, casting doubt on the project’s market legitimacy.
Pi Network Faces Credibility Challenges Amid Binance Listing Absence
Pi Network’s community-driven push for a Binance listing has hit a wall, with the exchange remaining silent despite overwhelming support. A February 2025 community vote saw 86% of participants endorsing PI’s listing, but Binance’s cryptic May 15 tweet featuring the π symbol—without follow-up action—has fueled skepticism.
The omission strikes at Pi Network’s market legitimacy. Binance’s rigorous listing standards cast doubt on PI’s readiness for prime-time trading. Where other altcoins like SOL and DOT gained credibility through exchange adoption, Pi Network’s closed ecosystem appears increasingly isolated.
Top Gainers Moo Deng and Degen Drive Crypto Trends Amid Mixed Market Performance
The cryptocurrency market exhibited stark divergence in the week ending May 18, 2025, with meme tokens Moo Deng (MOODENG) and Degen (DEGEN) surging 40% and 56% respectively. These outliers defied broader volatility as assets like PNUT, BSW, and DOGS posted double-digit losses despite heavy trading volumes.
Binance emerged as the dominant platform for trending tokens, with exchange visibility directly influencing price action. The dichotomy highlights the speculative nature of altcoin markets, where narrative-driven assets like MOODENG can decouple from fundamental metrics.
Pepe Whales Accumulate Amid Market Correction
Pepe (PEPE) whales are aggressively accumulating the meme coin despite a broader market downturn. LookOnChain reports one entity withdrew 420 billion Pepe ($5.39 million) from Binance on May 18, bringing total withdrawals to 2.21 trillion tokens ($29.28 million) over two days.
The frog-themed cryptocurrency has slipped 1.2% daily and 11.8% weekly, mirroring resistance across digital assets. Yet whale activity suggests institutional confidence in PEPE’s long-term valuation prospects, particularly around the $0.00002 threshold.
Whale Withdraws $5.61M in UNI Tokens from Binance, Signaling Bullish UniSwap Sentiment
A significant whale movement has stirred the Uniswap market, with 947,557 UNI tokens worth $5.61 million withdrawn from Binance. The transaction, spotted by analyst Onchain Lens, suggests a strategic accumulation by a long-term investor.
Such large-scale withdrawals often precede price rallies, as whales position themselves for anticipated growth. UniSwap’s on-chain activity now reflects heightened institutional interest, with savvy traders flocking to UNI’s potential.
Co-Founder of Telegram Crypto Project Blum Arrested in Moscow on Fraud Charges
Vladimir Smerkis, a co-founder of Blum—a cryptocurrency project integrated into Telegram Mini Apps—was detained in Moscow this week. The arrest follows allegations of large-scale fraud under Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code, which carries a potential prison sentence of 2 to 12 years. Smerkis previously managed Binance’s operations in Russia.
The Zamoskvoretsky District Court granted a custody request on May 18, signaling investigators’ confidence in their evidence. While formal charges remain undisclosed, the case has unsettled Blum’s Telegram-based community. Reports suggest scrutiny extends to Smerkis’ past business dealings.
Binance Launches Xterio ($XTER) Airdrop for Alpha Platform Users
Binance has unveiled an exclusive airdrop of Xterio ($XTER) tokens, targeting eligible users of its Binance Alpha platform. The initiative rewards participants holding at least 194 Alpha points with 294 XTER tokens, claimable starting May 19, 2025, at 8:00 UTC.
The move underscores Binance’s strategy to incentivize early adopters through its curated Alpha forum, which focuses on emerging crypto opportunities. Social media announcements emphasized the platform’s commitment to delivering value to its most engaged community members.
