Key Takeaways
BNB is the native cryptocurrency of the BNB Chain ecosystem, where it’s used for transaction fees, staking, governance, and more.
Since its creation in 2017, BNB has expanded into real-world adoption with multiple use cases, from payments at merchants to charitable donations via Binance Charity.
Binance programs, such as Simple Earn, Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer Airdrops, enable BNB holders to earn additional rewards.
What Is BNB?
BNB is a cryptocurrency launched in 2017 through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) held from June 26 to July 3, just before the Binance exchange opened for trading. Initially, BNB’s primary purpose was to enable users to pay fees and receive trading discounts on the platform.
Over time, the token has evolved into the utility token of the BNB Chain ecosystem, where it’s used to process transactions, run decentralized applications (DApps), and support decentralized finance (DeFi). Today, BNB offers a range of user benefits and earning opportunities, and has been adopted by some companies as part of their treasury strategies.
History
BNB was introduced in 2017 through an ICO, where 100 million tokens were made available for sale, representing half of the total supply. The issue price was 1 ETH for 2,700 BNB or 1 BTC for 20,000 BNB (around 0.10 USD per coin at the time). BNB was initially issued as an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, but the token standard was later replaced by the BEP-20 of the BNB Smart Chain.
Today, BNB is the native token of the BNB Chain ecosystem, supported by a decentralized community of users, developers, validators, and delegators. The token is used to pay for transaction fees, secure the network through staking, and give holders a role in on-chain governance. Additionally, BNB can be used as a form of payment across various businesses, applications, and platforms that support it.
How BNB Is Used
BNB Chain ecosystem
The BNB Chain ecosystem is made up of three connected parts:
BNB Smart Chain (BSC): An EVM-compatible blockchain that supports smart contracts and DApps.
opBNB: A Layer 2 scaling solution designed to make transactions faster and cheaper while staying connected to the main chain.
BNB Greenfield: A decentralized storage network for managing and storing data.
As the native token of the BNB Chain, BNB is used to pay transaction fees on the network. It’s used for activities such as deploying smart contracts on BSC, transferring assets on opBNB, and storing data on Greenfield.
By staking BNB, you can participate in securing the network, either as a validator or by delegating your tokens to one, earning rewards in the process. Holding BNB also grants governance rights, allowing you to vote on proposals that shape the future upgrades and development of the network.
Binance Exchange
Trading discounts
On Binance, you can use BNB to pay your trading fees on spot, margin, and futures markets. If you choose this option, the fees are taken directly from your BNB balance at a discounted rate. If you are a VIP user, you can also receive additional fee reductions based on your trading activity and account level, making BNB especially useful for high-volume traders.
Binance charity
BNB is used in charitable initiatives by Binance Charity to provide assistance to affected communities through airdrops and donation programs. For example, on August 7, 2025, Binance Charity announced an airdrop of up to $1.2 million in BNB to users in Southern Taiwan affected by flooding. These initiatives demonstrate how BNB can be used beyond trading and blockchain activity as a means of delivering assistance during natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.
Binance Pay
Binance Pay allows users to spend and transfer cryptocurrencies, including BNB, with merchants that support it. Payments can be made through QR codes, payment links, or integrated checkout solutions, offering a secure and borderless way to transact. Businesses can use Binance Pay for activities such as vendor settlements, payroll, and batch payouts, subject to regional availability and regulatory considerations.
Simple Earn rewards
When you subscribe your BNB to Binance Simple Earn, you can earn daily interest through flexible or locked products. At the same time, participating in Simple Earn automatically qualifies BNB holders for other reward programs, including Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer Airdrops. These programs can be combined, allowing one subscription to provide multiple types of rewards.
Launchpool: Allows users to stake BNB and other tokens to farm new project tokens before they go live.
Megadrop: Combines Binance Earn with the Binance Web3 Wallet, offering new tokens when users lock BNB and complete Web3 activities.
HODLer Airdrops: Provides retroactive rewards based on historical snapshots of BNB balances in Simple Earn products.
Institutional Adoption
Some companies have begun to explore BNB in ways similar to the Bitcoin treasury strategy, where businesses add Bitcoin to their balance sheets as part of their reserves. In 2025, several publicly traded companies reported adopting BNB through various methods, including the use of convertible notes or direct token purchases. For these businesses, holding BNB can be a way to spread out risk, keep their assets more liquid, and gain exposure to the broader crypto market.
Closing Thoughts
BNB is used as a utility token within the BNB Chain ecosystem and a means of accessing trading fee discounts when used on the Binance exchange. Additionally, BNB supports programs such as Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer Airdrops, providing users with more opportunities to participate in the Binance ecosystem. BNB can also be used in payments and charitable initiatives, and has attracted interest from institutions as a potential treasury asset.
Further Reading
Disclaimer: This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.