Crypto: Binance Bans Over 600 Accounts for Bot Abuse

Binance has just hit hard. More than 600 accounts have been closed for abusive exploitation of the Alpha platform via “bot farms”. The announcement targets actors who manipulated the rewards structure and falsified access to crypto token sales and airdrops. This assumed decision repositions the platform on a zero-tolerance line against predatory automation.

Alpha, Web3 showcase under pressure

Alpha was designed as a launchpad for early-stage Web3 projects, with a simple promise: give users prelisting exposure to promising tokens and reward real engagement. The success was swift, with substantial volumes and obvious speculative interest. But traction also attracts scripts.

In fact, organized groups industrialized the collection of Alpha points. How? By creating clusters of automated accounts capable of farming, 24/7, the same crypto incentive mechanisms. Result: supposedly fair allocations were siphoned off by a heavily equipped minority, to the detriment of legitimate users in the crypto ecosystem.

The severity of the sanction, more than 600 banned accounts, is a signal. It acknowledges that engagement measured by points means nothing if the algorithmic noise is not cleaned up. The platform also canceled undue gains and assumes a return to less manipulable metrics.

Binance tightens control, rewards reporting

Binance says it has tightened its detection systems and enforcement rules to spot bot patterns faster and act without delay. This includes point removal, account closure, and broader restrictions if necessary. This is the logical continuation after warnings published as early as June 2025.

Users can report suspicious accounts and, if fraud is proven, receive up to 50% of the recovered funds. Reports must include verifiable evidence (screenshots, on-chain addresses, technical data) to be considered. A strong incentive, but which effectively introduces a community surveillance dimension.

This policy arrives as on-chain investigations expose synchronized activity patterns well beyond Alpha. Bubblemaps, for example, has documented on BNB Chain clusters of wallets acting in concert around the ChainOpera (COAI) project, with estimated profits of $13M and uniform financing and trading behaviors. This highlights that the fight goes beyond a single use case.

Binance purges bots, trust restored

In the short term, airdrops and sales lose intensity. Indeed, distribution becomes more organic again, and each tightening increases the cost and exposure surface of bot farms. Platforms will have to redesign their points programs with more qualitative signals (proof of personhood, limits per verified identity, robust randomness, non-replicable engagement scoring).

In the long term, one question remains: reward attention or actual value brought to the network? Alpha’s initiatives will remain relevant if they align incentives with utility (useful testnet, validated feedback, measurable contributions), otherwise the “social yield” slides towards a software arms race.

Strategically, Binance protects its core asset. The trust of its retail base. Technically and regulatorily, the battle is won by changing the game, not with “no bots” banners: on-chain VRF draws, adaptive caps per identity, random eligibility windows, weighting by non-scriptable tasks (high entropy quizzes, repo contributions, soulbound attestations). There remains a reputation cost. The reporting program may cool part of the community. Furthermore, France is stepping up pressure on Binance and crypto platforms.