Coinbase Adds BNB to Token Roadmap, Expanding Listing Strategy

Coinbase has taken a significant step by adding BNB, the native token powering Binance’s ecosystem, to its official listing roadmap. This development marks the first instance where the U.S.-based exchange has openly supported a key asset from its primary global rival.

Trading for BNB will commence once Coinbase confirms adequate market-making support and technical infrastructure. The exchange emphasized that this addition reflects ongoing evaluations of assets based on liquidity, compliance, and user demand. At present, BNB ranks as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, trading at $1,165, with a modest 2% uptick following the news before settling slightly lower.

Industry Debate Fuels Push for Fee-Free Listings

The timing of Coinbase’s decision aligns closely with recent exchanges over token listing practices across the sector. Earlier this week, CJ Hetherington, CEO of Limitless Labs, a firm supported by Coinbase Ventures, accused Binance of requesting token allocations in exchange for listings on its platform. Binance swiftly rejected these assertions as false and defamatory, maintaining that it derives no revenue from such arrangements.

Jesse Pollak, who leads Coinbase’s Base network, weighed in by declaring that exchange listings ought to carry zero cost to issuers. His comment sparked immediate feedback from users urging Coinbase to demonstrate this principle through action, specifically by incorporating BNB. This dialogue highlighted broader concerns about fairness in how platforms select and onboard new cryptocurrencies.

In the hours leading up to the roadmap update, Coinbase released a detailed blog post outlining “The Blue Carpet,” a fresh initiative aimed at enhancing support for asset issuers. This program provides direct access to Coinbase’s listings team for personalized advice, along with options to update asset profiles on the exchange and its retail decentralized exchange. Issuers also gain referral-based discounts on services like regulatory whitepaper assistance and market-maker connections, all while keeping applications and listings entirely free of charge.

BNB first emerged in 2017 as a utility token for reducing trading fees on Binance, but it has evolved into the core fuel for transactions on the BNB Chain. Users rely on it for staking, governance votes, and launching new tokens within the network. Over the past month, the asset has climbed about 25%, reflecting strong momentum amid a recovering market.