Binance recently confirmed that it will refund all Binance Alpha Points to users affected by a system error during the Kyuzo’s Friends (KO) token airdrop. This move follows reports that some users who failed to successfully claim their KO tokens were nonetheless marked as having “claimed” — a bug in the airdrop system. As a result, Binance will automatically restore the points, and users do not need to take any action. (ChainCatcher)
What Happened with the KO Airdrop?
In the Kyuzo’s Friends event, Binance set a claim threshold of 256 Alpha Points. (Cointime) Users who met this threshold were eligible to claim 640 KO tokens, and the claim would cost 15 Alpha Points. (Cointime)
Unfortunately, due to a bug, some users who didn’t actually receive the KO tokens were still shown as having “claimed” on the Alpha event page. (ChainCatcher) That mismatch raised understandable alarm: people thought they had lost their points for nothing, or that their claim had gone through incorrectly.
How Binance Is Fixing It
Here’s the good news: Binance Alpha will fully refund Alpha Points to all the affected users. (YouToCoin) According to the official updates:
- No points will be deducted during the refund process. (ChainCatcher)
- You don’t need to take any further steps — Binance says the refund is “automatic.” (YouToCoin)
- The process applies to all impacted users, not just a subset. (ChainCatcher)
In other words, Binance is owning up to the mistake, and it’s making things right without putting the burden on its users.
Why This Was a Big Deal for Alpha Users
There are a few reasons why this refund is especially important:
- Trust in Airdrop Mechanics: For many users, Alpha Points are not just a number — they represent effort, strategy, and sometimes cost. When a bug falsely shows “claimed” status, users might fear that their work went waste.
- Alpha Program Reputation: Binance’s Alpha platform has seen increasing scrutiny. For example, earlier in 2025, Binance revised how Alpha Points are awarded after the collapse of ZKJ and KOGE tokens. (Coin Edition)
- User Protection: By refunding points without asking users to jump through hoops, Binance avoids penalizing people who were victims of a platform-side error.
Alpha Points & Program Changes
This isn’t the first time Binance has made adjustments to its Alpha Points system. In June 2025, the company announced major updates: trading volume from Alpha-token-to-Alpha-token pairs will no longer count toward Alpha Points. (Outposts) That change was driven by concerns around “Alpha farming” and abuse, especially through wash trading. (NFT Evening)
These reforms suggest Binance is trying to make its airdrop program more fair and sustainable. The KO refund fits into that narrative — by admitting an error and correcting it, Binance may be reinforcing trust in its Alpha ecosystem.
Affected Users
If you were one of the users affected:
- Check your Binance Alpha points balance — the refund should reflect automatically, according to Binance’s announcement.
- Rest easy: no action needed on your part. Binance is handling it. (YouToCoin)
- Keep an eye on Binance communications (app notifications, email announcements) in case there’s any delay or follow-up info.
On the other hand, for users not impacted by the bug, this incident still offers reassurance: Binance is willing to fix platform-level mistakes transparently and proactively.
Implications for the Alpha Program
Although the bug was a hiccup, it’s also an opportunity for Binance to strengthen its system integrity. A few possible outcomes:
- Improved Airdrop Infrastructure: Binance may audit and upgrade its airdrop system to prevent similar errors in the future.
- More Conservative Risk Controls: Given previous adjustments (like removing Alpha-to-Alpha volume from point calculations), Binance could continue tightening how points are earned. (Outposts)
- User Confidence Rebuilt: By offering a transparent refund, Binance signals that it values trust and fairness — critical for long-term retention on its Alpha platform.
In Summary
To sum up:
- A system bug during the Kyuzo’s Friends (KO) airdrop incorrectly showed some users as having claimed tokens, even though they didn’t. (ChainCatcher)
- Binance Alpha is refunding all affected Alpha Points automatically — no user action is needed. (ChainCatcher)
- This move underlines how seriously Binance takes its airdrop and Alpha program, especially amid prior reforms. (Coin Edition)
- For users, the refund restores trust; for Binance, it reinforces its commitment to fairness.
Sources:
- ChainCatcher: Binance refunding Alpha Points for KO airdrop error (ChainCatcher)
- YouToCoin: Confirmation of “claimed” status bug and refunds (YouToCoin)
- Cointime / PA News Lab: Details of KO airdrop conditions (256 points threshold, 640 KO, 15 points consumed) (Cointime)
- Outposts.io: Binance Alpha points rule updates (removing alpha-to-alpha volume) (Outposts)
- CoinEdition / NFTevening: Context on prior Alpha point abuses (ZKJ, KOGE) (Coin Edition)
