{"id":4066,"date":"2025-04-21T12:22:27","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T11:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/investx.fr\/en\/?p=4066"},"modified":"2025-04-21T12:22:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T11:22:29","slug":"binance-coin-bnb-definition-analysis-price-prediction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investx.fr\/en\/learn\/crypto\/bnb-binance-coin\/","title":{"rendered":"BNB (Binance Coin) : What Is It and What Is It Used For in 2026 ?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is BNB, Binance’s Token ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BNB (Binance Coin)<\/strong> is the native token of the Binance exchange platform, created in July 2017. Today, it ranks 5th in the cryptocurrency market capitalization<\/strong> ranking, with a valuation exceeding $100 billion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, BNB was designed to reduce trading fees<\/strong> on Binance, but its utility has expanded considerably. It now allows users to pay fees on the Binance Smart Chain<\/strong>, purchase NFTs, take out loans, and participate in ICOs via the Binance Launchpad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its creation, 200 million BNB tokens<\/strong> were issued, distributed among key investors (20 million), contributors (80 million), and ICO participants (100 million). Initially created on Ethereum<\/strong> as an ERC-20 token<\/strong>, BNB migrated to its own blockchain in 2019, becoming a BEP2 token on the Binance Chain, which later evolved into the BNB Chain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Bitcoin<\/a><\/strong> or Ethereum<\/a><\/strong>, BNB doesn’t use traditional protocols<\/strong> like proof of work or proof of stake. Its consensus is based on the Byzantine Fault Tolerance<\/strong> (BFT) method, with validators earning BNB by verifying blocks, enabling faster and less energy-intensive transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A distinctive feature of BNB is its “coin burn<\/strong>” program. Binance has committed to regularly buying back and burning tokens<\/strong>, reducing the total supply to eventually reach 100 million. This strategy aims to increase scarcity and potentially the value of the token. Currently, the maximum supply is around 149 million tokens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History of Binance Coin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

BNB’s history is closely tied to that of Binance, launched in July 2017 by Changpeng Zhao<\/strong> (CZ) after an ICO that raised $15 million<\/strong>. BNB was initially an ERC-20 token on Ethereum<\/strong>, offering trading fee discounts of up to 50% on the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Binance<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Between 2017 and early 2021, BNB’s price generally fluctuated between $5 and $32<\/strong>. A major turning point came in April 2019 with the launch of the Binance Chain<\/strong> and the migration of BNB tokens to the BEP-2 standard.<\/strong> This transition marked Binance’s commitment to developing a true blockchain ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year 2020 saw the launch of the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), featuring smart contract functionality compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine<\/strong>. This innovation allowed BNB to integrate into the rapidly expanding decentralized finance universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was in 2021 that BNB experienced its explosion, rising from about $31 in January to over $650<\/strong> in May, propelling BNB among the world’s most valuable cryptocurrencies. In 2022, despite a bear market, BNB demonstrated remarkable resilience as Binance restructured its brand, grouping its blockchains<\/strong> under the name “BNB Chain”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late 2023 marked a turning point with CZ’s departure following an agreement with U.S. authorities. Despite this major change, BNB continued to thrive, reaching a new all-time high of $793 in December 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Created BNB ?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Behind BNB is Changpeng Zhao<\/strong>, universally known by his initials CZ. Born in China in 1977, he emigrated to Canada at age 12. After studying computer science at McGill University, he worked for the Tokyo Stock Exchange<\/strong> and then Bloomberg Tradebook,<\/strong> developing high-frequency trading systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His encounter with Bitcoin in 2013 marked a decisive turning point. Convinced of its potential, he sold his apartment to invest in the cryptocurrency when it was worth only about $600. Before founding Binance, CZ gained experience in the blockchain ecosystem, notably at OKCoin and with his own company, Fusion Systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, he launched Binance after raising $15 million in an ICO<\/strong>. The name “Binance” is a blend of “binary<\/strong>” and “finance<\/strong>,” reflecting his vision of convergence between traditional finance and blockchain technology<\/strong>. Success was swift: in less than 180 days, Binance became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange platform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2023, following legal proceedings in the United States regarding violations of anti-money laundering laws, CZ reached an agreement with U.S. authorities. He pleaded guilty and resigned as CEO, while Binance agreed to pay a record fine of $4.3 billion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this personal setback, CZ’s legacy in the cryptocurrency<\/strong> industry remains considerable. He transformed Binance from a mere idea into a global giant and made BNB one of the world’s most valuable cryptocurrencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is BNB Used For ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BNB distinguishes itself through its versatility and concrete utility. Its primary function is reducing trading fees on Binance,<\/strong> offering up to 25% discount to users who pay their fees in BNB. This saving can represent considerable amounts for active traders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond this initial function, BNB serves as a payment method<\/strong> for various operations within the Binance ecosystem: listing fees<\/strong>, participation in token sales via the Binance Launchpad<\/strong>, or purchasing NFTs<\/strong> on the Binance marketplace<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the advent of the Binance Smart Chain<\/strong> in 2020, BNB’s role has expanded considerably. It became the native token of this blockchain, used to pay transaction fees (gas fees) for all operations performed on this network. This function is crucial as BSC hosts thousands<\/strong> of decentralized applications, DeFi<\/strong> protocols, and blockchain games<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BNB also plays a role in the governance of the BNB Chain<\/strong>. Holders can participate in decisions regarding the network’s evolution, with voting power proportional to their token quantity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the decentralized finance realm, BNB can be used as collateral to borrow other cryptocurrencies, staked to generate passive yields, or provided to liquidity pools. The Binance Launchpool<\/strong> program allows holders to stake their BNB to receive newly listed tokens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does the BNB Network Work ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The BNB network, known as BNB Chain, has evolved considerably since its creation. Initially an ERC-20 token on Ethereum<\/strong>, BNB migrated in 2019 to the Binance Chain<\/strong>, then evolved with the launch of the Binance Smart Chain (BSC)<\/strong> in 2020. In 2022, these blockchains were unified under the name “BNB Chain”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current architecture comprises two main chains: the BNB Beacon Chain<\/strong> (formerly Binance Chain) which handles governance and staking, and the BNB Smart Chain<\/strong> which supports smart contracts and decentralized applications. This architecture optimizes performance by separating functionalities on interconnected chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The consensus mechanism used is Proof of Staked Authority<\/strong> (PoSA), combining elements of Proof of Stake<\/strong> and Proof of Authority<\/strong>. In this system, 21 active validators are selected based on their staked BNB and reputation. They take turns producing blocks in a predetermined order, with a block time of approximately 3 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interoperability is ensured through bridges like the Binance Bridge<\/strong>, allowing assets to be transferred between the BNB Chain and other blockchains such as Ethereum<\/strong> or Solana<\/a><\/strong>. These bridges facilitate the conversion of tokens from one blockchain to another, typically in the form of “wrapped” tokens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of performance, the BNB Chain<\/strong> distinguishes itself by its ability to process several hundred transactions per second with very low fees, offering a smooth user experience even during periods of high activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Binance Smart Chain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Binance Smart Chain<\/strong> (BSC), renamed BNB Smart Chain, represents one of the major innovations of the Binance ecosystem. Launched in September 2020, this blockchain offers a performant and economical alternative to Ethereum, while maintaining compatibility with its tools and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"BNB<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The genesis of BSC addresses a concrete need: to overcome the absence of smart contract functionalities on the original Binance Chain.<\/strong> Facing the explosion of DeFi on Ethereum<\/strong> and the resulting congestion and high fees, Binance designed BSC as a complementary solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its most distinctive feature is its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)<\/strong>. This compatibility allows developers to easily port their applications from Ethereum to BSC with minimal modifications, reusing their existing code and Solidity skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BSC outperforms Ethereum in performance with a block time of approximately 3 seconds (versus 13 for Ethereum) and fees generally under one dollar. These advantages have attracted numerous projects like PancakeSwap, Venus Protocol, or Alpaca Finance, creating a complete DeFi ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main token standard on BSC is BEP-20,<\/strong> equivalent to Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard.<\/strong> Other standards like BEP-721<\/strong> (for NFTs) and BEP-1155<\/strong> (for multi-function tokens) expand creative possibilities for developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its successes, BSC faces criticism regarding its level of decentralization. With only 21 active validators, it is significantly more centralized than blockchains like Ethereum or Bitcoin.<\/strong> This centralization certainly allows for superior performance but raises questions about its resistance to censorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Consensus Algorithm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The BNB Smart Chain<\/strong> uses a consensus algorithm called Proof of Staked Authority<\/strong> (PoSA), an ingenious fusion between Proof of Stake<\/strong> and Proof of Authority<\/strong>. This hybrid approach addresses the needs for speed, energy efficiency, and security, while maintaining a certain degree of decentralization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Bitcoin which uses the energy-intensive Proof of Work<\/strong> with confirmation times of about 10 minutes, BSC’s PoSA selects a limited set of validators (21 active) who must stake a significant amount of BNB and maintain robust technical infrastructure. This dual criterion aims to ensure that only serious actors participate in transaction validation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this system, validators take turns producing blocks in a predetermined order, each having about 3 seconds to submit a block. If a validator fails, the turn passes to the next one. To become a validator, a candidate must stake several thousand BNB<\/strong> (representing several million dollars) and have high-performance infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security rests on several pillars: the high stake requirement creates an economic deterrent against malicious behavior, the validator rotation system complicates coordinated attacks, and a “slashing<\/strong>” mechanism automatically penalizes validators who break protocol rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its performance advantages, PoSA<\/strong> has limitations in terms of decentralization. With only 21 active validators, BSC is significantly more centralized than blockchains like Ethereum or Bitcoin, raising questions about its resistance to censorship and regulatory pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Network Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The security of the BNB Chain network<\/strong> constitutes a fundamental aspect of its architecture. The Proof of Staked Authority (PoSA)<\/strong> consensus mechanism forms the first line of defense, requiring validators to stake a substantial amount of BNB, thus creating a strong economic deterrent against malicious behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slashing system<\/strong> reinforces this security by automatically punishing validators who break protocol rules. The network architecture is robust with geographically distributed nodes, reducing risks related to localized failures. Binance maintains rigorous development practices with thorough security audits and a bug bounty program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these measures, the BNB Chain has experienced several security incidents. The most notable occurred in October 2022, when a hacker exploited a vulnerability in the BSC Token Hub<\/strong>, fraudulently creating 2 million BNB<\/strong> (approximately $570 million). Binance’s reaction was swift but controversial: the team contacted validators to temporarily suspend the blockchain, limiting actual losses to about $100-110 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ability to “stop” the blockchain raised important questions about the network’s level of centralization. Following this incident, Binance implemented several corrective measures: fixing the vulnerability<\/strong>, additional audits<\/strong>, strengthening the white hat<\/strong> reward program, and introducing an on-chain governance<\/strong> mechanism to improve transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, according to AvengerDAO,<\/strong> BSC experienced 414 security incidents, representing a 44% increase<\/strong> compared to 2022. These incidents include smart contract exploits, Ponzi schemes, and phishing attacks. “Sandwich” attacks were among the most common, framing a user’s transaction between two quick transactions by the attacker to generate profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages and Disadvantages of BNB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s now discuss the advantages<\/strong> and disadvantages<\/strong> of Binance’s BNB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages of BNB<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

BNB presents several significant advantages that explain its growing popularity :<\/p>\n\n\n\n