Cryptocurrency Exchange Binance Shocks Users With Swastika-Like Logo

Yikes. Cryptocurrency exchange Binance made a major blunder on Wednesday by launching an emoji on Twitter that closely resembles a Nazi swastika.

The company launched the emoji as a branded hashtag, meaning it would appear whenever someone tweeted #binance. However, users everywhere were surprised the cryptocurrency exchange didn’t notice the emoji’s resemblance to the symbol of the Nazi party. 

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It didn’t help that the branded hashtag debuted on Adolf Hitler’s birthday. In response, Twitter users have been reacting to the emoji with shock, disgust, and jokes taking digs at the company. 

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Binance, which was originally headquartered in Hong Kong, China, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But the company has since pulled the swastika logo and replaced it with a new one that looks more like a floating golden balloon. 

“Well that was obviously really embarrassing,” Binance tweeted this afternoon. “We’re not sure how that emoji got through several layers of review without anyone noticing, but we immediately flagged the issue, pulled it down, and the new emoji design is being rolled out as we speak.”

The mishap may be due to cultural differences. In the West, the swastika, particularly a tilted one, is often connected to the Nazi party. However, Asian cultures use it as a sign of divinity and as a charm for good fortune. The origins of the symbol actually date back thousands of years, when swastikas were widely used as spiritual signs.

Putuo Temple in China
(Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Still, some users are questioning why Binance’s swastika-like emoji was released on Hitler’s birthday of all days. “Either this is a prank some underpaid staff has made or (an) inside job to damage company image. Either way Binance has some explaining to do,” one person tweeted.