Largest user compensation effort in Binance ecosystem history follows unprecedented liquidation event
Binance’s BNB Chain has announced a $45 million compensation airdrop aimed at helping users who suffered heavy losses during Friday’s crypto market crash, which wiped out nearly $20 billion in leveraged positions worldwide.
The initiative, dubbed the “Reload Airdrop,” will distribute BNB tokens to more than 160,000 eligible wallet addresses, with payouts scheduled to begin this week and conclude by early November. According to the network, the relief effort marks the largest user recovery plan ever launched within the Binance ecosystem.
BNB Chain — originally developed by Binance but now governed by a decentralized community — underpins the broader ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and asset management projects.
Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said the BNB rewards will be randomly allocated, with distribution support from ecosystem partners including Four Meme, PancakeSwap, Binance Wallet, and Trust Wallet.
BNB hits new all-time high amid backlash
Despite the turbulence, BNB surged to a record high of $1,370 on Monday, signaling strong recovery momentum even as Binance faced user criticism over its handling of the crash. Several traders alleged that system glitches prevented them from exiting losing positions during the sell-off.
One trader claimed Binance “shut down their system during a major market crash,” a charge the exchange denied in a follow-up statement, saying its core futures engine remained fully operational.
The crash also triggered technical anomalies — including certain altcoins momentarily displaying prices of $0 and Ethena’s USDe stablecoin dropping to $0.65. Binance attributed these to thin liquidity and display errors, not actual asset failures.
To restore confidence, Binance confirmed it reimbursed users $283 million for losses tied to depegged assets such as USDe, BNSOL, and WBETH.
Analysts said the swift relief airdrop and direct compensation reflect a maturing approach toward user protection in the crypto industry — a move that may help Binance regain trust after the market’s largest single-day liquidation in history.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.