How to Buy BNB: Top Exchanges for 2025
BNB is a native asset of the Binance Chain and Binance Smart Chain. The coin powers the platform’s trading ecosystem, is used to pay for its services, and can be converted to other crypto assets. BNB holders who have large volumes of the currency may be eligible for discounts on trading fees, a practice that encourages traders to use the coin.
BNB was initially hosted by the Ethereum blockchain. In April 2019, the ERC-20 BNB tokens were replaced by BEP-2 BNB at a 1:1 ratio. The BNB swaps enabled holders to transfer their coins to the newly-launched Binance Chain as BNB became the platform’s native cryptocurrency.
The Binance Smart Chain uses a Proof of Staked Authority in which network users state their reputation and identity instead of tokens. Under this mechanism, the Binance Smart Chain relies on 21 validators to run its blockchain.
Binance claims that anyone can become a validator as long as they meet hardware requirements and have a minimum of 20,000 BNB staked.
To prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few, Binance also permits delegators. These individuals enable investors to delegate their BNB tokens for validators to validate, giving them a stake in the system even if they don’t hold millions in BNA.
Why You Should Buy the Binance Coin
Throughout 2024, Binance Coin gained more than 185% in value. Today, the token can fit into a wide range of investment strategies and is ideal for those looking to diversify their crypto portfolio.
Binance is also the world’s leading crypto exchange. Despite competition from Coinbase and others, it is the biggest by market capitalization. In 2024, it became the first exchange to pass $100 trillion in lifetime trading volume, while BNB became the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
Binance is growing its ecosystem in a way that other blockchains are not. For instance, BNB holders can use Binance coins as collateral to access credit. Binance users can also make secure borderless payments via Binance Pay and can earn passive income through NFT staking.
Due to the tremendous volume of trade, the Binance Smart Chain now surpasses Ethereum as the most active platform in the market. Since BNB is native to the chain, having BNB tokens will certainly enable investors to profit from Binance’s growth.
Downsides to Buying BNB
While Binance has been enormously successful, it operates a risky business model. The company has often exhibited its willingness to move ahead with projects, even if they risk regulatory pushback.
Some investors may find this disconcerting. A few years ago, US authorities forced Binance to launch separate operations in the country to comply with its regulation. There have been similar speed bumps in Europe which led to a months-long freeze on bank deposits from the Single European Payment Area or SEPA network. Binance was also told to suspend operations in the Cayman Islands, the UK, Canada, and Thailand due to a lack of regulatory clearance.
And while many BNB investors hope that the platform will continue its expansion to different corners of the globe, others are very conscious of the scrutiny that the platform is drawing from regulators in more than a dozen jurisdictions.
Choose a Trusted BNB Exchange
How to Buy Binance Coin: Step-By-Step
The BNB token is available on some cryptocurrency exchanges, but not all.
Step 1: Open an Account
The best way to purchase the coin is to set up an account on Binance. The registration process is straightforward. All you need to do is provide an email address and create a password for your account. Unfortunately, the platform isn’t accessible from all jurisdictions in the US.
Step 2: Get a Wallet
You can store BNB on your BNB exchange wallet, or you can use Binance’s crypto wallet app, Trust Wallet. The company claims that the latter option is the most user-friendly and secure mobile wallet on the market.
Step 3: Buy BNB
Once you have an account and a wallet, the next step is to buy the tokens.
There are several ways that you can do this:
- Buy BNB with a credit card: Binance allows you to purchase BNB with either credit or debit cards. Both Visa and Mastercard are accepted on the platform.
- Buy BNB directly from another holder: Since Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange, it also allows you to purchase BNB directly from other holders. To buy BNB locally, simply access the Binance P2P exchange.
- Buy BNB with bank transfer: You can buy any of the stablecoins listed on Binance’s platform by wiring money from your bank account to the providers of those coins. The coins can then be used to purchase BNB on the Binance exchange.
- Buy BNB with other cryptocurrencies: Lastly, you can trade over 300 cryptocurrencies supported by the platform for BNB. The system works similar to a forex market, with each coin having an exchange rate with the Binance Coin.
Binance allows you to buy and sell on a regular desktop computer or on the move using its mobile apps. The platform uses a powerful matching engine that’s capable of supporting more than 1.4 million orders per second. Therefore, you can place trades in real-time.
Most users store their BNBs on the platform that they buy them from. They can often be stored in an exchange account – you don’t need an external wallet. However, there is a certain level of risk associated with this approach. If the exchange gets hacked, is fraudulent, or goes bankrupt, then you may lose your BNB.
Buying BNB Through Decentralized Exchanges
BNB is also available to buy through a variety of third-party decentralized exchanges or DEXs that run on the Binance Smart Chain. Popular options include 1inch, SushiSwap, BakerySwap, and PancakeSwap, though there are others. Many of these platforms allow you to trade anything you like, with no registration or hassle, connecting directly to your wallet.
If you want to connect to these DEXs, you’ll need to have a wallet that supports the Binance Smart Chain. Binance’s own Trust Wallet is a great option, but there are a few alternatives, including MetaMask.
While you’re holding BNBs, you have the option to stake your coins and earn interest on them, as you might in a conventional market. The easiest way to do this is via the Binance platform. However, there are other protocols, such as those offered by PancakeSwap, that allow you to do the same thing.
I have always thought of myself as a writer, but I began my career as a data operator with a large fintech firm. This position proved invaluable for learning how banks and other financial institutions operate. Daily correspondence with banking experts gave me insight into the systems and policies that power the economy. When I got the chance to translate my experience into words, I gladly joined the smart, enthusiastic Fortunly team.