Binance Cracks Down: Alpha Program Overhaul Targets Token Abuse & Bot Manipulation

Binance slams the brakes on exploiters with a sweeping Alpha Program revamp. The exchange''s latest move clamps down on artificial trading activity—because nothing says ''healthy markets'' like chasing away the bots feasting on your ecosystem.

New guardrails aim to prevent token gaming while (theoretically) preserving access for legitimate traders. Because when whales and algos run wild, retail traders get the scraps—another day in decentralized finance''s ''wild west''.

The update drops just as speculation swirls about tightening global crypto regulations. Coincidence? Probably not. Binance''s preemptive strike might just save their Alpha traders from becoming regulatory collateral damage.

TLDR

• Binance has overhauled its Alpha Airdrops program following recent token crashes.
• The new system introduces a two-phase airdrop model with stricter eligibility.
• ZKJ and KOGE tokens collapsed due to liquidity issues and inflated trading volumes.
• Binance has excluded mutual trades between Alpha tokens from earning points.
• The exchange detected bot activity and adjusted the program to block automated farming.

Binance has announced a major revision to its Alpha Airdrops program, which takes effect starting June 19. This decision comes after the sharp collapse of ZKJ and KOGE tokens, which raised concerns about manipulation. Binance aims to restore structure and credibility with a two-phase model and stricter eligibility controls.

ZKJ Token Crash Triggers Urgent Changes

The ZKJ token, issued by Polyhedra Network, plunged 91% in a single trading day last week. This sharp drop followed a liquidity breakdown in KOGE, which fell from $62 to $24. Both tokens shared a liquidity pool and were heavily featured in Binance’s Alpha program.

The sudden collapse exposed how traders used Alpha Points to inflate activity across ZKJ and KOGE. This manipulation led Binance to review on-chain data and adjust the reward model. Investigators confirmed that large wallets earned over $8 million before the token values crashed.

Binance acknowledged that mutual trades between Alpha tokens contributed to the instability. As a result, it has now removed such trades from point calculations. This update prevents artificial volume boosts that previously misled users and affected market dynamics.

Important Announcement:

Starting from June 19th, 2025, the Binance Alpha Airdrop will be distributed in two phases:

Phase 1: Users who meet the Alpha point threshold (X) can claim the airdrop within a period.
Phase 2: The threshold will be lowered to Y (Y

— Binance (@binance) June 17, 2025

Spark Token Launch Adds Conditions for Claim

Binance launched Spark (SPK) on June 17 under the updated Alpha program, offering 2,000 tokens for eligible users. To claim SPK, users need at least 240 Alpha Points, and each claim burns 15 points. Claims must also be completed within 24 hours, creating urgency.

This launch introduces more structured eligibility and is designed to filter out non-human behavior. Binance stated it detected bots attempting to exploit earlier distributions through rapid, automated interactions. The updated system now incorporates tighter controls and real-time validation.

The new two-phase system further limits access to airdrops based on point thresholds. In phase one, only users above threshold X may claim tokens. In phase two, the threshold lowers to Y, and claims proceed on a first-come basis until the pool is empty.

Today''s Pancake topic is about $ZKJ and $KOGE rug.

Something else quietly happening on Pancake, #PUNDIAI climbing the volume rank w $2.8m/day, same as $CAKE/USDT pair though tvl is only a tenth.

Let''s see what pundi/wbnb APR will be tmr. pic.twitter.com/YAVKnfrbC1

— Zac (@Zac_Pundi) June 16, 2025

Binance Responds to Alpha Exploits and User Concerns

Binance confirmed it has overhauled the Alpha Points model to prevent repeated abuse. It now excludes circular trades between Alpha tokens and improves transparency around point calculations. These actions reflect the exchange’s efforts to strengthen its reward mechanisms.

Binance had introduced Alpha in 2024 to reward user participation in early-stage projects. However, poor safeguards allowed market manipulation, leading to major token crashes and losses. The new updates aim to reduce volatility and promote responsible engagement.