Kaiko Warns Binance Liquidity Dominance Raises Systemic Crypto Risk

Crypto market liquidity is becoming more concentrated. That is the core warning from research firm Kaiko. In its latest report, Kaiko said trading activity is flowing into a small group of centralized exchanges. Binance sits at the center of that shift. According to the data, Binance now dominates both spot and derivatives markets. Spot trading volume on the exchange stands above $15 billion. Derivatives exposure is even larger. 

Open interest on Binance exceeds $27 billion, placing it among the largest risk hubs in crypto. Kaiko warned that this level of concentration creates fragility. When liquidity clusters in one place, shocks travel faster. During calm markets, this structure looks efficient. During stress, it can magnify losses across the entire system.

Volatility Turns Concentration Into a Risk Multiplier

Kaiko pointed to recent market turmoil as a clear example. In October, a sharp crypto sell-off wiped out more than $19 billion in futures positions. That event exposed how fast cascading liquidations can spread. During that period, some Binance-listed tokens showed price dislocations. Meanwhile, several traders reported access issues. Binance later said it would compensate affected users. Still, the episode raised fresh questions.

Kaiko said that when volatility spikes, heavy reliance on one exchange can turn local problems into market wide disruptions. A technical outage, legal action, or operational failure at a dominant venue could ripple across prices, liquidity and confidence. This risk is not theoretical. The collapse of FTX in 2022 showed how centralized failures can drag down the broader market. Bitcoin and major altcoins sold off sharply. Several firms followed FTX into bankruptcy. Kaiko argues that extreme concentration increases the odds of similar chain reactions.

Regulatory and Legal Uncertainty Adds Pressure

The report also flagged Binance’s regulatory position as a key concern. Kaiko noted that Binance is not formally regulated in many jurisdictions. It also does not yet hold a MiCA license in the European Union. In the United States, Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty. In 2023 to violations of anti money laundering laws. The exchange agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties.

Zhao admitted that Binance failed to prevent illicit funds from moving through the platform. Kaiko said these unresolved legal and regulatory risks add another layer of uncertainty. Any sudden enforcement action or compliance issue could disrupt operations. Given Binance’s size, the impact would not stay contained.

Binance Pushes Back as Industry Debate Grows

Despite the warnings, some industry voices offer a more balanced view. Binance has secured nearly two dozen licenses worldwide. Most recently, it obtained approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market. The exchange says it continues to improve compliance and controls.

CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju defended Binance’s track record. He said early exchanges operated in a regulatory vacuum. According to him, Binance survived while many rivals failed, which helped it earn credibility over time. Still, Kaiko message is clear: Liquidity concentration may boost efficiency. But it also raises systemic risk. As crypto matures, the industry may need deeper liquidity across more venues. Otherwise, the next shock could hit harder than expected.