His message was clear. Success does not come from complaining about fees or begging for listings—it comes from building a solid project.
Listing Fees Are Not the Enemy
CZ emphasized that projects shouldn’t feel pressured to pay listing fees. If a project is strong, exchanges will compete to list it. Conversely, if a project struggles to get listed, it may be time to reflect on its value proposition. CZ also noted that complaining about a competitor’s listing fees is unproductive. Exchanges and decentralized platforms are free to set their own business models. For example, PancakeSwap, a popular decentralized exchange, charges no listing fees and still maintains high trading volumes. This demonstrates that there are multiple ways to succeed without paying large upfront costs.
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
Exchanges adopt different listing strategies based on their market position and revenue model. Some list every token across multiple blockchains, but many of these tokens are scams or low-quality projects. Others selectively list projects and charge fees or request airdrops to users to cover operational risks and protect investors. A few even require security deposits to discourage scams and failed projects. CZ pointed out that most exchanges combine these approaches across spot listings, futures listings, and Web3 wallet integrations to balance user protection with business sustainability.
Focus on Building, Not Complaining
CZ advised that complaints about coins or fees should be directed at the project, not the exchange. He urged project teams to prioritize user experience and product quality over competing with other exchanges. In a market where over 80% of new tokens fail within their first year, according to recent Chainalysis data, the focus should be on creating a sustainable project rather than fixating on listing fees. He also reminded bag holders—those holding large amounts of a token—that if they are unhappy, their concerns should be raised with the project team or explored through decentralized exchanges.
The broader lesson from CZ’s comments is that in crypto, as in any industry, value drives opportunity. Listing fees are a tool, not a barrier. Projects that prioritize users and long-term development naturally attract attention from exchanges and investors alike. For anyone building in the space, the advice is simple: work on your project, deliver value, and let success follow, rather than focusing on fees or competitors.