In a swift response to allegations of misconduct, Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has suspended an employee accused of using insider information to promote a newly launched meme token via an official social media account.
The incident, which unfolded on December 7, 2025, involved the rapid deployment of a token dubbed "Year of the Yellow Fruit" on the BNB Chain, followed almost immediately by a promotional post from the @BinanceFutures X account.
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According to Binance's official statement released on December 8, 2025, the employee deployed the token on-chain at approximately 05:29 UTC and, less than a minute later, used matching text and imagery in a post on the Binance Futures account.
The post, captioned "The year of the yellow fruit and harvest! Plant wisely.
Harvest abundantly," featured visuals that aligned perfectly with the token's branding, including a tree laden with crypto-themed fruits. It was quickly deleted after community backlash, but screenshots circulated widely on X.
Binance's internal audit team received whistleblower reports on December 7, prompting an immediate investigation. Preliminary findings confirmed the employee's involvement, describing the actions as "abuse of their position for personal gain" in violation of company policies and professional conduct standards.
The exchange has suspended the individual pending further disciplinary measures and proactively contacted authorities in the employee's jurisdiction, signaling potential legal action.
To encourage transparency, Binance distributed a $100,000 bounty equally among five verified whistleblowers who submitted reports through the official channel ([email protected]).
The exchange emphasized that public disclosures on X, while appreciated, do not qualify for rewards to protect anonymity.
The token, launched on the BNB Chain's Four.Meme platform, exploded in value following the post, surging over 6,000% initially and reaching a market cap peak of around $6 million with more than $16 million in trading volume.
Remarkably, the price pumped even harder after Binance's public confirmation of the scandal, hitting new highs above $0.006 before settling around $0.002 with a fully diluted valuation near $2 million.
The phrase "year of the yellow fruit" originated from a legitimate Binance post on December 4, 2025, quoting crypto influencer Raoul Pal during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, where he predicted 2026 as "the year of the yellow fruit" amid discussions on liquidity and fiscal stimulus.
Meme coin creators often capitalize on such official mentions, but this case crossed into clear insider manipulation.
This is not Binance's first brush with internal misconduct. In March 2025, the exchange suspended a Binance Wallet team member for allegedly front-running token listings using privileged information from a prior role at BNB Chain.
The incident underscores persistent challenges in governance at major crypto platforms, where access to official channels can amplify thin-liquidity assets like meme coins. While Binance's rapid response - resolving the case in under 24 hours and rewarding whistleblowers - demonstrates improved oversight, it highlights the need for robust internal controls in an industry prone to rapid viral pumps and ethical lapses.
As meme coin mania continues on chains like BNB and Solana, traders are reminded of the risks: insider advantages can create explosive gains for a few, but often lead to sharp corrections for retail participants chasing official signals. Binance reiterated its "zero-tolerance" policy, pledging to strengthen controls and refine policies to prevent recurrences.
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Author: Slava Vasipenok
Founder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) - Daily insights on Web3, AI, Crypto, and Freelance. Stay updated on finance, technology trends, and creator tools - with sources and real value.
Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.
This is not financial or investment advice. Always do your own research (DYOR).
