Scroll, an Ethereum Layer-2 network, recently found itself in hot water after it distributed its SCR governance tokens via Binance Launchpool. This move sparked frustration among users who felt that Scroll was prioritizing a centralized exchange over its own community.
In response to the backlash, co-founder Ye Zhang explained that the decision was part of a larger growth strategy. He acknowledged the criticism but emphasized that the partnership with Binance was crucial for Scroll’s future.
Many in the crypto community were concerned about the token distribution, noting that Binance users received a significant portion—5.5% of the total supply—in just two days, while long-term mainnet participants received only 7%.
This uneven allocation led to accusations that Scroll was compromising its decentralization principles, with some users feeling that the network was “kneeling to CEXs” (centralized exchanges).
Zhang defended the collaboration, highlighting the practical advantages of partnering with Binance, especially in competing with other platforms like Tron. He pointed out that major exchange support is vital for providing necessary on-ramps and off-ramps for stablecoins.
Zhang clarified that the tokens distributed to Binance were drawn from the protocol’s growth budget, not from community airdrops. He reassured users that 15% of the tokens are set aside for the community, with more airdrops on the horizon. He likened the situation to Apple’s app fees, suggesting that the distribution power of Binance justified the decision.
