On September 18, Binance reduced the collateral ratio for six specific tokens, whereas Coinbase International Exchange announced that 29 assets will be dropped from its eligible-collateral list effective September 29. These ratios dictate the proportion of a token’s market value that an exchange acknowledges when calculating margin or borrowing limits.
Although these platforms utilize distinct account systems and products, both updates demonstrate how a token can maintain its market price while simultaneously offering less support to a trader’s margin cushion or borrowing capacity.
Specifically, Binance’s September 18 update lowered the collateral ratios for AUCTION, BLUR, GALA, HYPER, S, and SYRUP, moving them down from 30% to 10%. Conversely, the same adjustment increased ratios for ARB, TAO, and WLD from 50% to 60%.
How exchange rules shrink usable token collateral
To visualize this impact, consider a hypothetical trader holding $100,000 worth of one of the six affected tokens on Binance. Under a 30% collateral ratio, the holding yields $30,000 in recognized collateral value, but a 10% ratio reduces that recognized value to $10,000.
While the assumed market value of the holding remains $100,000, the amount acknowledged by the exchange drops by $20,000. This represents a 20% drop in the ratio, which is equivalent to a 66.7% relative reduction.
Binance explained that its Cross Margin modifications influence the maximum amount a customer can transfer out or borrow. Within Portfolio Margin accounts, collateral ratios feed directly into the unified maintenance margin ratio (uniMMR), a metric used to determine if a combined portfolio holds sufficient margin to back its open positions.
While a diminished recognized value can weaken that safety cushion, the final result ultimately relies on the specific risk tiers, liabilities, and other assets present in the account.
According to its collateral documentation, Coinbase International Exchange will strip 29 assets of their eligible collateral status on September 29. This affected roster features assets such as BNB, AVAX, ARB, ONDO, PEPE, SHIB, and UNI.
This update alters collateral eligibility across Coinbase’s derivatives infrastructure. Depending on their unique margin setups, customers whose accounts depend on these tokens may need to scale down their exposure or supply alternative collateral.
The handling of SYRUP highlights how swiftly an exchange can flip an internal risk weight. Binance previously boosted SYRUP’s ratio from 10% to 30% on September 4, only to bring it back down to 10% on September 18—a span of just 14 days.
Selective repricing sets the limits of the story
Alongside those cuts, Binance’s September 18 update featured higher ratios for ARB, TAO, and WLD. Furthermore, a September 11 adjustment increased ratios for equity-linked assets and tokenized gold—including PAXG, XAUT, QQQB, and SPYB—while cutting ratios for seven other cryptoassets.
These varied modifications point to selective risk repricing happening within Binance’s ecosystem. Total borrowing capacity could either increase or decrease based on the specific asset balances a trader holds.
A collaborative report published by Glassnode and Bybit noted that coin-margined collateral lost its majority share of the tracked Bitcoin futures book and never managed to win it back. Coin-margined positions leave traders vulnerable to a double blow during market downturns: a losing contract alongside weakening collateral.
That publication highlights a broader, long-term shift in the structure of the Bitcoin derivatives market. Meanwhile, the September announcements focus on current policy updates at Coinbase and Binance, with all available evidence pointing to independent decision-making rather than coordinated actions between the platforms.
Additionally, Binance delisted five cross-margin trading pairs on September 18: ENJ/USDC, GENIUS/USDC, CVX/USDC, GUN/USDC, and VANA/USDC. It also removed the GENIUS/USDC isolated-margin pair, automatically settling any remaining open positions.
The immediate fallout from these changes will manifest as shifts in pledged collateral, borrowing utilization, position reductions, margin calls, or liquidations.
Official exchange reports tracking these metrics will ultimately reveal whether the parameter adjustments triggered significant deleveraging. For the time being, these notices illustrate that exchange-enforced collateral policies can restrict usable leverage independently of underlying token prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes did Binance and Coinbase make regarding collateral?
Binance lowered the collateral ratios for six tokens on September 18 (and raised ratios for others), while Coinbase International Exchange announced that 29 assets will lose their eligible-collateral status on September 29.
How do lower collateral ratios impact traders?
A lower collateral ratio means an exchange recognizes less of an asset’s market value for margin cushions and borrowing limits, giving leveraged traders less breathing room without changing the token’s market price.
Were the updates by Binance and Coinbase coordinated?
Available evidence shows no indication that the two exchanges coordinated their policy changes.
What tokens are affected by Coinbase’s upcoming removal?
Coinbase’s list of 29 assets leaving its eligible-collateral list includes BNB, AVAX, ARB, ONDO, PEPE, SHIB, and UNI.
What specific tokens had their collateral ratios lowered by Binance on September 18?
Binance cut collateral ratios from 30% to 10% for AUCTION, BLUR, GALA, HYPER, S, and SYRUP.
