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Main TakeawaysWelcome to our new series, Binance Hot Takes and Hard Truths, a spotlight on our bi-monthly internal Culture Chat.In March, four Binancians responded to six bold takes about what it really means to be “hardcore” here.Read below for their unfiltered reflections and surprising lessons after years thriving in Binance’s hardcore culture.At Binance, we believe culture should be lived, not just stated. Every two months, our internal Culture Chat series brings employees together to talk openly about what it’s really like to work here – through real stories, bold perspectives, and honest debate.In our March edition, we put that belief to the test. Under a fun new live quiz format, employees were presented with “hot culture takes” and they swiped left (to disagree) or right (to agree) on each, then explained their “hard truths” perspective on these tidbits. Our culture stars shared their stories, spilled their lessons, and laid bare what "hardcore" really means to them.Whether it was handling late-night escalations or navigating regulatory pressure, they brought sharp insights that revealed a shared truth: success at Binance takes grit, intention, and relentless speed.Meet the Hardcore CrewFrom crisis response to campaign launches, these four are no strangers to the fast lane:Alexey joined Binance in 2021 and leads marketing, strategy planning, and product ops for the Central Europe region. Known for moving fast and thinking big, he’s a go-to force when momentum strikes. Whether it’s launching Telegram-inspired mini-games like MoonBix to riding a viral trend, or steering campaigns through tight deadlines, Alexey thrives in high-pressure, high-stakes environments. Mary, based in Asia, is part of the Risk Review team, handling some of our most complex user issues with a calm, analytical mindset. From KYC concerns to transaction escalations, she brings clarity to high-stakes situations and shows up with intention every day.Ahmed, based in Bahrain, manages risk across market, credit, liquidity, and operations. He joined in 2022 and quickly became indispensable, launching over 10 complex products in a month. Today, he balances regulatory precision with strategic agility to keep Binance ahead of the curve.Lucky, based in Singapore, works on the VIP team supporting our top-tier clients. Whether navigating volatile markets or solving urgent issues, she combines deep product expertise with steady, solutions-focused execution.Let’s dive into the six hot takes that sparked it all – and what they reveal about life at Binance.Hot Take #1: If You’re Not Working Long Hours, You Won’t Succeed at BinanceMary from the Risk Review team. Source: BinanceThis opening take sparked a sharp debate about what truly drives success: time or output.Lucky swiped right without hesitation. “In the VIP team, we work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment,” she said. “Burnout isn’t the goal, but let’s be honest, if you’re after a strict 9-to-6, crypto’s probably not your game. It’s a marathon, not a sprint; but you’ve got to keep pace.”Ahmed offered a sharp contrast. “Swipe left for me,” he said. “There’s always more to do, but it’s not about clocking more hours. It’s about working smarter. I always pause to understand what’s actually needed because without that clarity, you can waste 10–20 hours redoing something that could’ve taken two. Focus beats busyness every time.”Mary, who once handled up to 80 user chats a day and now manages complex escalations, swiped right, but with a reservation. “It’s not just about time, it’s about what you do with it,” she said. “Some tasks demand deep focus and emotional control. You can’t shortcut that. I’ve worked long hours, but only when the situation truly called for it.”Alexey brought it home with a relatable perspective. “Crypto can feel always-on... it even follows you into your dreams,” he joked. “But I’ve learned the brain can only manage five to six hours of real deep work a day. Being online and close to the community is key, but the real impact comes from turning those insights into fast, meaningful action.”The takeaway? Long hours may sometimes be necessary, but it’s how you use your time that defines success.Hot Take #2: At Binance, Natural Talent is Valued More Than Hard WorkCue the collective left swipe from participants. This take sparked a wave of powerful reflections, starting with Mary, whose honest testimony reframed the entire conversation. “I was put on a PIP (performance improving plan) within three months of joining Binance,” she shared. “My KPIs were low. I wondered if I even belonged.”But instead of stepping back, Mary leaned in. “I read SOPs on weekends. I opened my laptop on my days off. I didn’t just want to catch up... I wanted to rise.” And she did. Today, she’s in Risk Review, handling some of our most complex and sensitive user cases.Lucky, VIP team. Source: Binance. Lucky offered a view from the other side — as a mentor. “I’ve trained people with zero crypto background who ended up outperforming folks who’d been in the industry for years,” she said. For her, passion and curiosity outweigh raw skill: “It wasn’t about talent; it was about attitude and effort.”Alexey, ever the pragmatist, summed it up with clarity: execution is the great equalizer. “If you’re committed, you’ll stay curious, push your limits, and build the skills, regardless of how much ‘natural talent’ you started with. Effort drives growth. That’s how we connect across business units, deliver results, and live our ‘Get Shit Done’ mindset.At Binance, it’s not the flashiest résumé that shines — it’s the willingness to do the work.Hot Take #3: Fast and Wrong Beats Slow and PerfectA polarizing topic — and a revealing one. Ahmed came out strong. “Perfect is not realistic,” he said. “Especially in crypto, where everything moves fast and unpredictably. Waiting for perfection wastes time and resources.” His approach? Launch, learn, improve. It keeps him agile and ready to adapt.Ahmed, Risk Manager. Source: Binance. Lucky echoed the sentiment, citing our Spot and Futures Market Making Program. “The core structure is there, but the rules shift based on real-time market behavior. In bull or bear cycles, we don’t wait to build the perfect version... we go live, monitor, and adapt fast.” For her, progress through action drives results.Yet, Mary was firm in her left swipe. “In my world, there’s no room for “fast and wrong,” it has to be right the first time.” Her weekly leadership reports must be airtight. “If I submit something with a mistake, it snowballs — more questions, more corrections, more risk. In my world, precision and preparation are what move things forward.”This take revealed one of the great truths of Binance: context is everything. Some teams need to move fast and iterate. Other teams have to be bulletproof from the start. Knowing which one you are? That’s part of being hardcore.Hot Take #4: We Should Take Full Ownership, Shared Accountability Slows Things DownThis one didn’t spark debate, just hard-earned lessons. Alexey shared a stalled regulatory project in Europe. “No one fully owned it. Tasks kept bouncing around, and everyone thought someone else was in charge. We lost time, energy, and momentum. His takeaway? One project, one owner. “When ownership is clear, decisions are faster and accountability is stronger — regardless of the outcome.” Lucky put it even more bluntly. “You can have multiple stakeholders, but someone needs to lead - set the meetings, manage timelines, align people, and own the outcome. Without that, it’s easy to lose focus, especially when deadlines are tight.” Ahmed added a perspective from the Risk team. “When too many people share ownership, things slow down and accountability gets blurred.” That said, he also pointed to the power of collaboration: “It brings in more ideas and often leads to better execution.” His approach? Own your part fully, but don’t work in a vacuum.Hot Take #5: Success is About Being Better Than Everyone ElseAlexey, Marketing and Product. Source: Binance. This final take was less about hustle and more about mindset.Alexey swiped right, but offered a thoughtful clarification: “It’s not about ego or rivalry. It’s about seeing someone performing at a high level and thinking: that’s the bar I want to reach.” For him, excellence in others serves as a mirror, not a threat.Ahmed took the opposite view. “The only competition that matters is with yourself,” he said. “The hardcore mindset is about pushing your own boundaries. We’re not here just to win, we’re here to grow. And that means focusing on progress, not comparison.”Mary agreed. “When others succeed, I feel inspired, not threatened,” she said. “That motivates me to keep learning. It’s not about beating others, it’s about bettering yourself.”Lucky grounded the conversation in team dynamics: “In VIP, we don’t win by proving someone wrong, we win by solving tough problems together. It’s collaboration over competition.”The bottom line? Growth at Binance isn’t fueled by rivalry, it’s driven by self-mastery, shared wins, and raising the bar together.The Hardcore Equation: What It Really TakesThis wasn’t your typical talk about corporate culture, and there was nothing generic about it. What unfolded was a candid, grounded, and often inspiring look at what being hardcore really means at Binance. Not in slogans, but in sweat. Not in myths, but in real stories.Through bold hot takes and real-life experiences, it became clear: being hardcore isn’t about burnout, bravado, or trying to outshine your team. It’s about intentionality, resilience, and a deep-rooted sense of ownership.Hardcore doesn’t mean being “on” 24/7. It means showing up when it matters most – whether that’s stepping into a high-stakes VIP escalation, handling 80+ user chats in a single day, or quietly choosing to keep learning even when things aren’t going your way. It’s the mindset of staying engaged, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.At Binance, being hardcore means pushing with purpose, growing through pressure, and showing up, fully and consistently, when it counts.Further Reading Binance Culture Stars Insights: Feedback, Humility and GrowthShuai: Binance’s Proactive Systems BuilderMeeting Halfway: Binancians Across Space and Time Zones