BNB Chain

EVM-compatible layer 1 and scaling ecosystem with sub-cent gas fees and 650ms finality

Blockchain Founded 2020
Visit bnbchain.org
Our score
Good
Layer Layer 1
Consensus / design Delegated PoS
Native token BNB
Typical transaction fee $0.003696
EVM compatible Yes

What is BNB Chain?

BNB Chain is an EVM-compatible blockchain network ecosystem centered on the BNB token. It spans the layer-1 BNB Smart Chain, the opBNB layer-2 rollup, and BNB Greenfield decentralized storage, holding about $5.47B in total value locked as of October 2026.

Founders and background

The network traces back to cryptocurrency exchange Binance, founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao. The ecosystem utility asset, BNB, debuted in July 2017 as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum for users to pay fees on Binance's platform. Binance launched Binance Smart Chain in September 2020 as a programmable smart-contract platform running alongside the initial Binance Chain, later unifying and rebranding the infrastructure as BNB Chain in February 2022.

How the network works

BNB Smart Chain uses Delegated Proof of Stake consensus to execute EVM bytecode written in Solidity. Developers deploy standard Ethereum tooling without code modifications, reaching block finality in roughly 650 milliseconds. Layer-2 throughput is expanded via opBNB, a layer-2 network built on the OP Stack, while BNB Greenfield supplies decentralized data storage within the BNB Chain ecosystem. Across all three components, the BNB token powers transaction fees, validator staking, and governance votes.

Fees and network activity

Typical transaction fees on BNB Smart Chain average $0.003696. The ecosystem reports 3.984M daily active users, while stablecoin activity has 12.7M monthly active users. Trading volume reached $2.19B in October 2026, supported by 92,768 issued assets and DeFi protocols like PancakeSwap.

Track record and security incidents

The ecosystem launched in 2020 and experienced a cross-chain bridge exploit in October 2022. In October 2022, an attacker exploited the network's cross-chain bridge, resulting in the unauthorized minting of BNB tokens. Validators coordinated to pause the chain.

Risks and governance trade-offs

BNB Chain balances speed against validator centralization. A report from October 2022 listed 44 active validators. It has operational ties to Binance and uses cross-chain bridges.

Founders

Changpeng ZhaoFounder (Binance)

Founded Binance in 2017

Best for:High-frequency DeFi tradersDevelopers porting Ethereum dAppsLow-cost stablecoin paymentsMicrotransaction Web3 gaming

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Average transaction fee of $0.003696
  • Fast 650ms block finality time
  • Over $5.4B in TVL and 12.7M monthly stablecoin users
  • Full EVM compatibility allows direct Solidity deployment

Cons

  • Validator set limited to 44 active nodes, concentrating consensus
  • Experienced a major bridge exploit in October 2022 minting unauthorized BNB
  • BNB Chain has historic ties to Binance

Our review

3.9/5
Good

BNB Chain delivers fast execution and sub-cent transaction fees with substantial reported TVL, but operates with a concentrated validator set and centralized structural ties to Binance.

Performance4.5
Fees4.5
Ecosystem4.5
Decentralization2.5
Developer experience4.0

BNB Chain is an EVM-compatible layer-1 ecosystem originally launched in September 2020 by cryptocurrency exchange Binance under founder Changpeng Zhao. Rebranded from Binance Smart Chain in February 2022, the network uses a Delegated Proof of Stake consensus model powered by the BNB token for transaction gas, staking, and governance. The ecosystem includes the primary BNB Smart Chain (BSC), the opBNB layer-2 network built on the OP Stack, and BNB Greenfield decentralized storage.

The network processes transfers with a 650ms finality time and typical gas fees around $0.003696. The ecosystem reported $5.468B in total value locked and $2.194B in trading volume in October 2026. Developer tooling matches the standard Ethereum Virtual Machine stack, supporting Solidity smart contracts, standard Web3 RPC endpoints, and cross-chain bridging.

The primary trade-off centers on decentralization and security architecture. BSC relies on a limited active validator set of 44 nodes, concentrating block production among a small cohort. In October 2022, an exploit on its cross-chain bridge resulted in an unauthorized minting of BNB tokens, requiring coordinated validator interventions to pause the network. BNB Chain has close ties to Binance.

BNB Chain has ties to Binance and uses a limited active validator set.

Listings are researched and drafted with AI assistance from public sources, then checked for accuracy and readability. Spot an error? Tell us. Editorial policy.
Sources (3)

Specs

Layer Layer 1
Consensus / design Delegated PoS
Native token BNB
EVM compatible Yes
Smart contract languages Solidity
Typical transaction fee $0.003696 · unverified
Finality 650ms · unverified
Validators / sequencer 44 · unverified
Mainnet since 2,020 · unverified
Sequencer Not applicable · unverified
Gas paid in BNB · unverified

Not disclosed by the provider: Block time, Throughput (TPS), Data availability.

Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.

Key features

EVM compatibility

Executes Solidity smart contracts using Ethereum development tooling and the BNB token.

Sub-second finality

Reaches deterministic transaction finality in 650 milliseconds on BNB Smart Chain using Delegated Proof of Stake.

BNB Greenfield storage

Integrates decentralized object storage directly with smart contracts for data availability and file hosting.

Average low fees

Maintains an average transaction fee of $0.003696 paid in native BNB tokens.

Account abstraction support

Implements EIP-7702 demonstrations and tools to enable smart accounts through authorized operations.

Inside BNB Chain

BNB Smart Chain (BSC)

The core EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain supporting smart contracts, DeFi applications, and primary token liquidity.

opBNB

A layer-2 scaling solution for BNB Smart Chain built on the OP Stack to deliver higher throughput and lower fees.

BNB Greenfield

A decentralized storage network that integrates with BNB Smart Chain smart contracts for Web3 data management.

BNB Chain screenshots

BNB Chain homepage with navigation, hero message, contact button, metrics, and a cookie banner
BNB Chain homepage with navigation, hero message, contact button, metrics, and a cookie banner · Oct 20, 2026
Docs: BNB Chain documentation page for opBNB with navigation, introductory text, and documentation links
Docs: BNB Chain documentation page for opBNB with navigation, introductory text, and documentation links · Oct 20, 2026
BNB Smart Chain (BSC): The BNB Smart Chain page displays a hero section with network metrics and a cookie banner
BNB Smart Chain (BSC): The BNB Smart Chain page displays a hero section with network metrics and a cookie banner · Oct 20, 2026

What users say about BNB Chain

User reports detail technical troubleshooting and asset recovery issues.

Based on 2 Reddit posts and comments from the last 12 months, checked Oct 20, 2026. These are posts by users on other sites, not reviews submitted on CryptoReview.

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FAQ

Who founded BNB Chain?

BNB Chain was developed by cryptocurrency exchange Binance, which was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao. The network launched as Binance Smart Chain in September 2020 before rebranding in February 2022.

What are the transaction fees on BNB Chain?

Typical gas fees on BNB Chain average around $0.003696 per transaction. Fees are paid in the network's native asset, BNB.

Does BNB Chain have a native token?

Yes, the ecosystem uses the BNB token. Originally launched as an ERC-20 token in July 2017, it now pays for gas, staking, and governance across BNB Chain networks.

Has BNB Chain experienced any major security incidents?

In October 2022, an attacker exploited the network's cross-chain bridge to mint unauthorized BNB tokens. Network validators coordinated to pause the chain.

Is BNB Chain EVM compatible?

Yes, BNB Smart Chain is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Developers can write and deploy smart contracts using Solidity and interact via standard Web3 RPC endpoints.

Latest from BNB Chain on X

BNB Chain
@BNBChain · 3.9M followers
Follow
BNB Guilds are builder-led communities shaping BNB Chain’s local scenes.

From hands-on AI workshops to campus sessions and community AMAs, here’s what they’ve been up to over the past month. 🧵 👇 https://t.co/J1yfN29Unt
Image attached to the post
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We stand with @Binance and the teams who have been working relentlessly on the security incident since last night.

For our community: BNB Smart Chain, opBNB, BNB Greenfield and BNB Chain bridges were not affected. Everything is running as normal and funds on BNB Chain are safe.

Binance has always put its users first and stood behind them in tough moments, and we have full confidence in the team as they work through this.

Moments like this remind all of us how important security is. Trust in this industry is something we all share, and we'll keep working with partners across the ecosystem to protect it, every day.
132 88 613 70.3K View on X
Jenner is now on BSC testnet, where developers can try out the upgrade before it reaches mainnet.

Here’s what’s being tested:

🔸 Payment Lane: reserves block space for qualifying BNB transfers between wallets, so other activity can’t take up all the space when the network gets busy. Token payments can qualify once their contracts are approved for the lane.

🔸 Millisecond timestamps: gives apps a more precise clock to check when a price quote expires or an auction closes.

🔸 CAS20: adds the capability to introduce tokens whose creators share a standard set of tools to manage transfers, supply, and pauses. CAS20 is coming later, with more details to follow.

More on the upgrade below 👇
40 18 151 37.1K View on X
Meet the winners of BNB Hack: Tokenized Edition, co-hosted with @BinanceWallet 🏆

Five builds stood out and will be sharing a $20,000 prize pool:
→ 1st: Moi
→ 2nd: 4lpha
→ 3rd: Redeye
→ 4th: TARE
→ 5th: Firstshare

Best use of Agentic Wallet / Wallet Skills: 4lpha
Best use of BNB Agent Studio: Firstshare

Explore the full builds: https://t.co/ct4M7XIsJE

Thank you to all builders for participating! Onto the next BNB Hack 🔜
Image attached to the post
71 28 228 72K View on X
Jenner hardfork is now live on BSC testnet!

What the upgrade entails:
🔸 Payment Lane, reserving 5% of block gas by default for eligible payments.
🔸 Millisecond block timestamps for smart contracts.
🔸 Functionality for CAS20, a new Compliant Asset Standard.

Payment Lane and CAS20 will go through governance before being fully enabled. More details to follow.

Read the full upgrades 👇
https://t.co/pbqJfq7nAD
Image attached to the post
67 23 212 378.2K View on X

Recent public posts from @BNBChain, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.

Latest from BNB Chain on Telegram

BNB Chain
@bnbchain · 72.2K subscribers
Join
Jenner hardfork is now live on BSC testnet!

What the upgrade entails:
🔸 Payment Lane, reserving 5% of block gas by default for eligible payments.
🔸 Millisecond block timestamps for smart contracts.
🔸 Functionality for CAS20, a new Compliant Asset Standard.

Payment Lane and CAS20 will go through governance before being fully enabled. More details to follow.

Learn more: https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/jenner-hardfork-changes-upgrade-guide
Image attached to the post
1.4K View on Telegram
Jenner hardfork is coming to BNB Smart Chain testnet on Oct 28.

Validators, node operators, block builders, and application developers: start preparing for the upgrade.

Jenner includes:
🔸 Payment Lane, reserving 5% of block gas by default for eligible payments.
🔸 Millisecond block timestamps for smart contracts.
🔸 Functionality for CAS20, a new Compliant Asset Standard. More details on its availability will follow separately.

Testnet node operators must upgrade to a compatible client before activation. Developers should review the changes affecting their applications and tooling.

Our upgrade guide covers what’s changing and how to prepare…
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2.5K View on Telegram
The 37th quarterly $BNB token burn has been completed directly on BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

~1.64M $BNB has been burned, worth approximately $1.197B USD 🔥

View the details of the burn below 👇
https://bnbchain.org/en/blog/37th-bnb-burn
Image attached to the post
2.4K View on Telegram
Earn limited edition merch while finding AI agents you’d actually use.

Set and Earn opens Oct 1 on BNB Chain.

Explore shortlisted marketplaces for agents that manage yield, run grid strategies, or rebalance your positions. Hire agents then build and list an agent of your own and win!

The first 100 qualifying wallets win merch.

Full info 👇
https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/set-and-earn-hire-and-build-ai-agents-on-bnb-chain-win
Image attached to the post
4.4K View on Telegram

Recent posts from the official Telegram channel @bnbchain, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.

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