Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is facing a significant backlash after Pi Network supporters flooded both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store with one-star reviews. This surge of negative feedback stems from frustration over Binance’s failure to list Pi coins on its platform, despite earlier polls suggesting strong community support for the listing.
The controversy began after a post in a Pi Network Facebook group, which boasts over 135,000 members, urged followers to “rate Binance one star for disrespecting the Pi Network project.” This call to action was quickly echoed across social media platforms, including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), with many users claiming they had followed through on the directive.
However, some critics of the Pi Network voiced opposition to this strategy, arguing that it might only harm the reputation of the project and its supporters.
The Poll That Sparked Expectations
The backlash can be traced back to a poll conducted by Binance via its Binance Square Official account from February 17 to February 27. The exchange was seeking feedback on whether to list Pi on its platform. Over 85% of the respondents supported the idea of listing the coin, which led many Pi Network supporters to believe that the listing was imminent.
However, Binance clarified that the poll results were merely for reference and would not influence any official decision. On March 1, Binance updated the poll results but did not commit to listing Pi. Instead, the exchange emphasized that its listing process involves comprehensive due diligence, which includes evaluating the project’s quality, team, market demand, use case, technological innovation, and compliance.
This clarification, however, did little to alleviate the frustration among Pi Network supporters, many of whom felt misled by the poll. According to Hoang Anh, an administrator of a large Pi Network Facebook group, the misunderstanding occurred because many supporters believed the poll was a promise for the Pi coin’s immediate listing.
Frustration Leads to One-Star Reviews
The failure to list Pi on Binance led to widespread frustration, particularly among those who had participated in the poll by completing identity verification and depositing at least $5 to cast their votes. Anh explained, “Feeling deceived, the only way for them to express their anger was through one-star ratings.”
As a result, Binance’s ratings on both Google Play and the App Store took a hit. On Google Play, the exchange’s rating plummeted from 4.9/5 to 3.8/5 based on 2.86 million reviews. Similarly, on the App Store, the rating dropped from 4.8/5 to 4.2/5, based on around 12,400 ratings. Many of the one-star reviews accuse Binance of “tricking users into depositing money to vote for Pi” and “disrespecting the Pi Network project.”
A History of Controversy with Exchanges
This isn’t the first time Pi Network supporters have targeted a cryptocurrency exchange over the project’s listing. Earlier, ByBit, a rival exchange, also faced a backlash after its CEO, Ben Zhou, issued warnings about Pi Network being a potential scam. As a result, ByBit’s Google Play rating dropped from 4.7/5 to 2.8/5.
Despite the vocal criticism from Pi supporters, analysts argue that Binance may have legitimate reasons for withholding Pi from its platform. Blockchain expert Anh Bang highlighted that while Pi Network launched its mainnet after six years of development, it still lacks crucial elements such as smart contracts and open-source code. These are seen as essential components for any legitimate cryptocurrency project.
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Moreover, Pi Network’s decentralized structure has come under scrutiny, with concerns that all active mainnet nodes are controlled by the Pi Network team rather than a distributed network of independent validators.
The Pi Network Controversy: A Long Road Ahead
Pi Network, which was launched in 2019, initially gained attention for allowing users to mine Pi through its mobile app without the need for heavy computational power. However, the project’s slow pace in launching its mainnet — which finally took place in February 2025 — has raised doubts about its long-term viability in the cryptocurrency space.
As the dispute over Pi’s listing continues, there are growing concerns that alienating major exchanges like Binance could hurt the project’s future. “Not only Binance, but other exchanges may also hesitate to engage with the Pi Network community if they fear backlash for not meeting expectations,” warned Hoang Anh. “Missing out on Binance could ultimately hurt the Pi project more than it benefits it.”
Binance’s Position on the Pi Listing
Founded in 2017, Binance quickly rose to become the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by 2018, with daily trading volumes nearing $22 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Despite this dominance, Binance’s decision to withhold Pi Network’s listing has drawn significant attention from the crypto community, and the platform’s handling of the situation will likely have long-term implications for its relationship with Pi supporters.
The Pi Network continues to be a polarizing project in the cryptocurrency world, with growing concerns surrounding its technological and decentralization issues. As Pi Network supporters continue to rally for its inclusion on major exchanges, Binance’s reluctance to list the coin serves as a reminder of the rigorous standards that exchanges apply when evaluating the legitimacy of new tokens.
Ultimately, the outcome of this ongoing dispute will have ramifications not only for Pi Network’s future but also for the credibility and trust between cryptocurrency exchanges and the communities they serve.
