TL;DR
BNB Smart Chain (BSC) has been booming with activity. Ranging from token swaps to decentralized money markets and cute NFTs, there are many options to earn yield or simply to have fun.
But what do you need to get started, and how do you do it? Weâll go through it all in this article.
Introduction
First, if youâd like to get an overview of the technology behind BSC, check out An Introduction to BNB Smart Chain (BSC).Â
That article can give you a walkthrough of the mechanics of the blockchain, while this one will provide practical information about how to get started. So letâs dive in.
BNB Smart Chain (BSC) wallets
First things first, youâll need a wallet to interact with the applications on BSC. The good news is that you have quite a few options to choose from.
Itâs worth keeping in mind that this isnât an exhaustive list. In addition to the ones mentioned below, you can also use Math Wallet, Ledger, TokenPocket, Bitkeep, ONTO, Safepal, and Arkane.
MetaMask
Something you might already be familiar with is MetaMask. If not, no worries, weâve got your back â we have a guide on How to Use MetaMask.Â
But wait, isnât MetaMask an Ethereum wallet? It is, but actually, itâs quite easy to connect it to BSC. This way, you can use a familiar UI when interacting with BSC.Â
As to how to connect your MetaMask to BSC? Weâve got a detailed guide about it, so check out Connecting MetaMask to BNB Smart Chain if youâre interested.
Trust Wallet
Some dApps, such as PancakeSwap, allow you to connect using Trust Wallet.
Trust Wallet is one of the easiest mobile wallets to use, so if youâd like to use BSC from your pocket, itâs among the best options.
Binance Wallet
Binance Wallet is another option that you have for certain apps on BSC. You can get it as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Brave. Itâs easy to use and has a slick UI.
How to get crypto to BNB Smart Chain (BSC)
So, now we have plenty of wallets to choose from, but how can we move funds to the chain? We can withdraw from our Binance account or use the Binance Bridge.
Before we go further, however, itâs important that we clear up some conceptual background.
BNB Smart Chain supports the BEP-20 token standard, while BNB Beacon Chain, the home of Binance DEX, supports the BEP-2 token standard. If youâd like to trade on Binance DEX, youâll need to use BEP-2 tokens, while if youâd like to use dApps on BSC, youâll need BEP-20 tokens.
Withdrawing from Binance
Chances are if youâre reading this, you already have a Binance account. The easiest option may be to simply withdraw from your Binance account to a BSC wallet.
Just make sure to select BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20) when withdrawing funds to your external wallet.
BNB Smart Chain (BSC) dApps
So, now weâve got a wallet, and weâve transferred some funds to it. What can we do with our magic internet money? Letâs take a look at some of the most popular decentralized applications on BSC.
And donât forget that these are just a few of the biggest ones. New and exciting dApps are getting launched all the time. You can track them on DefiStation, DappRadar, or the Math dApp Store.
PancakeSwap
PancakeSwap is the number one automated market maker (AMM) on BNB Smart Chain. Similar to Uniswap or SushiSwap, you can do token swaps for BEP-20 tokens on PancakeSwap. You can also earn passive income by providing liquidity to one (or more) of the liquidity pools. Just be aware of impermanent loss before depositing.
While the AMM is at the core of PancakeSwap, thereâs much more you can do. You can also take part in the lottery, win NFTs, participate in token sales, compete for spots on the leaderboard, and more!
If youâre interested, check out our detailed guide about PancakeSwap.
Venus Protocol
Venus Protocol is a borrow-lending protocol similar to Compound or Aave on Ethereum. Itâs a decentralized money market where you can borrow and lend BEP-20 tokens with algorithmically set interest rates.
Have some idle funds lying around? Venus can be an option to earn interest on them or use them as collateral to borrow against to participate in yield farming.
Venus also enables a decentralized stablecoin called VAI, which is backed by a basket of cryptoassets. In this way, you could think of Venus as a hybrid of Compound and MakerDAO on BSC.
Autofarm
Autofarm is a yield aggregator on BSC. You can think of it as similar to yearn on Ethereum. It automatically tries to find the most optimal way for you to earn a yield on your deposits.
BurgerSwap
BurgerSwap is also a popular AMM on BSC. You can do BEP-20 token swaps and provide liquidity.
Spartan Protocol
The Spartan Protocol is a synthetic asset protocol on BSC. It allows users to create liquidity pools for BEP-20 tokens â just like many other AMMs.Â
However, it aims to allow for much more in the future, such as the creation of synthetic assets collateralized by liquidity pools, as well as lending and on-chain derivatives.
Cream
Cream is a popular lending protocol on Ethereum that is also deployed on BSC. You can borrow and lend BEP-20 tokens.
How to track BNB Smart Chain (BSC) metrics
So, now we have almost everything to get started. But how will we track our activity on BSC? Well, BscScan is the best place.
If youâve been involved with DeFi at all, the site may look a bit familiar. It looks and feels very much like EtherScan  â thatâs because itâs made by the same team that made EtherScan.
So once youâve found your addresses, what else should you keep an eye on? There are several handy metrics that track the ongoing activity on BSC, and weâve collected them in this article:Â 6 BNB Smart Chain (BSC) Metrics You Should Know.
Closing thoughts
BNB Smart Chain has seen some significant development and user activity, and itâs only bound to increase in the future.Â
If youâre interested in DeFi, it may be worth keeping a close eye on it. Whereâs the best place to do that? Follow the Binance Chain Community Twitter for the latest updates about BSC.