About BNB (BNB)

What is BNB (Binance Coin)?

BNB is the native token of the BNB Chain ecosystem, originally launched through Binance’s ICO in July 2017. It started as an exchange utility coin but has since evolved into a core asset powering one of the world’s largest blockchain networks. Today, BNB fuels transactions, staking, governance, and ecosystem participation across BNB Smart Chain, Beacon Chain, opBNB, and GreenField.

How was the BNB token originally distributed?

BNB launched with a total supply of 200 million tokens. Half (50%) were sold publicly during the ICO at $0.15 per token, raising $15 million. The Binance team retained 40% of supply for development and operations, while 10% went to angel investors including Roger Ver, Chandler Guo, Jun Du, and Vincent Zhou. Binance pledged to burn tokens quarterly until the supply reaches 100 million.

How does BNB’s burn mechanism work?

Each quarter, Binance uses 20% of its profits to repurchase and permanently burn BNB. This deflationary model gradually cuts supply and supports long-term token scarcity. The ongoing burns have removed nearly a quarter of the total supply since 2017, reinforcing BNB’s role as a deflationary crypto asset.

Are there any locked or vesting BNB tokens left?

No — all BNB from the original allocation are fully unlocked. Team, investor, and ICO tokens have been liquid since 2023. The only temporary locks now come from staking, Launchpool farming, and Binance Earn products, which may hold BNB for 7–120 days depending on the service terms.

Who invested in Binance during the ICO and funding rounds?

Binance’s ICO in July 2017 raised $15 million at $0.15 per token, marking an 8,554× ROI in USD terms from launch. Early angel investors included Roger Ver, Chandler Guo, Jun Du, and Vincent Zhou. A subsequent Series A round in September 2017 raised $10 million, led by Sequoia Capital, joined by Limitless Crypto Investments, Funcity Capital, Black Hole Capital, Vertex Ventures, and Vertex Ventures China. In November 2024, Binance secured an additional $10 million funding round to accelerate ecosystem growth.

Where can you trade BNB?

BNB trades on nearly every major exchange. Binance remains the primary venue with deep liquidity across pairs like BNB/USDT, BNB/USDC, BNB/BTC, and BNB/ETH. Other exchanges such as OKX, KuCoin, Gate.io, Bitget, and MEXC also support it. On-chain, PancakeSwap dominates decentralized trading within the BNB Smart Chain ecosystem.

What are the main uses of the BNB token?

BNB powers gas fees on BNB Smart Chain, offers fee discounts on Binance Exchange, and enables staking and participation in Launchpad and Launchpool events. It’s also accepted across DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and payment gateways within the broader Binance ecosystem.

What’s driving BNB Chain’s ecosystem growth?

BNB Chain continues expanding through scalable architecture and AI-driven infrastructure. opBNB processes over 100 million transactions daily, while GreenField boosts decentralized storage and data solutions. The 2025 roadmap targets sub-1-second block times, gas payments in stablecoins, and security enhancements against MEV. New integrations include real-world asset tokenization and institutional DeFi.

What activities and airdrops are tied to BNB?

As of June 2024, Binance launched HODLer Airdrops for users staking BNB through Simple Earn (Flexible or Locked). Eligible users receive tokens from new projects preparing to list on Binance. The program, valued at $35 million, continues indefinitely (TBA end date) under the BNB Chain Ecosystem via Launchpad. Participants can subscribe in Binance’s Earn section and await official announcements for upcoming airdrops.

What risks should users consider with BNB?

BNB carries regulatory, centralization, and market-related risks. Binance’s legal challenges and global scrutiny add uncertainty, while heavy reliance on Binance services introduces potential single-point-of-failure risks. Smart contract bugs, liquidity locks, and general market volatility also remain factors to watch. Still, its deflationary model and large user base continue to anchor long-term confidence.