BNB (Binance Coin) is the native cryptocurrency of the Binance exchange and the BNB Smart Chain blockchain. Holding and using BNB on Binance unlocks a 25% discount on trading fees, making it a strategic purchase for any active trader. This guide explains how to buy BNB and how to use it effectively.
What Is BNB and Why Should You Buy It?
BNB was initially launched as a utility token for the Binance exchange and has since evolved into one of the top cryptocurrencies by market cap. Key uses include:
- Trading fee discount: Pay your Binance spot trading fees in BNB and receive a 25% discount
- BNB Smart Chain: BNB is used to pay gas fees on the BNB Smart Chain (BSC) network
- Binance Launchpad: BNB is used to participate in token launch events
- Binance Pay: Use BNB for payments with merchants
- DeFi and NFTs: BNB powers transactions across BSC DeFi apps and NFT platforms
- Investment: BNB has historically appreciated as Binance has grown
How Much Can You Save Using BNB for Fees?
The math is simple. Standard spot trading fee on Binance is 0.1%. With BNB fee payment enabled, you pay 0.075% — a 25% reduction.
Example:
- You trade $10,000 worth of BTC/USDT per month
- Standard fee: $10,000 x 0.1% = $10/month
- With BNB: $10,000 x 0.075% = $7.50/month
- Savings: $2.50/month or $30/year
For high-volume traders doing $100,000/month, this becomes $300/year in savings.
How to Enable BNB Fee Payment
- Log in to Binance
- Go to your profile icon at the top right
- Click Dashboard
- Under Trading Fee, enable Using BNB to deduct
Once enabled, your BNB balance is automatically used to pay trading fees at the discounted rate. If your BNB balance runs out, fees revert to the standard rate in the traded coin.
Method 1: Buy BNB with USDT on the Spot Market
The cheapest way to buy BNB if you already have USDT.
Steps:
- Log in to Binance
- Navigate to Trade > Spot
- Search for BNB/USDT in the pair list
- In the order form, click the Buy tab
- Choose order type:
- Market: Buys immediately at current price
- Limit: Buys when BNB reaches your target price
- Enter the amount of USDT to spend or the BNB amount you want
- Click Buy BNB
Fee: 0.1% standard (or 0.075% with BNB fee payment enabled — note you need BNB first to get this discount on the BNB purchase itself)
Method 2: Buy BNB with a Credit or Debit Card
The fastest option if you have no crypto on Binance yet.
Steps:
- Click Buy Crypto in the top navigation
- Select Credit/Debit Card
- Enter your fiat amount
- Change the "You Get" field to BNB
- Review the rate and fee (typically 1.8%–3.5%)
- Click Buy BNB and complete payment
BNB is credited to your Spot wallet immediately.
Method 3: Buy BNB via Binance Convert
Quick and simple if you have any other crypto on Binance.
Steps:
- Go to Trade > Convert
- Set "From" to your current coin (e.g., USDT, ETH, or BTC)
- Set "To" to BNB
- Enter the amount
- Click Preview Conversion and then Convert
No explicit fee — the spread is built into the rate. Fast and straightforward.
Method 4: Buy BNB via P2P Trading
Useful if you want to pay with local payment methods.
Steps:
- Go to Buy Crypto > P2P Trading
- Select BNB as the asset
- Enter your fiat amount and currency
- Browse available sellers and select one
- Follow their payment instructions
- Confirm payment to release BNB from escrow
How Much BNB Do You Need to Keep?
You do not need a large BNB balance for fee discounts. Binance automatically uses small amounts of BNB to cover each trade's fee. For a typical retail trader, keeping $20–$50 worth of BNB is usually sufficient for weeks or months of trading.
The amount consumed per trade is tiny:
- A $1,000 trade with BNB fee payment: 0.075% = $0.75 worth of BNB consumed
- A $10,000 trade: $7.50 worth of BNB
Monitor your BNB balance and top up before it runs out to maintain the discount.
BNB on the BNB Smart Chain
Beyond trading fees, BNB is essential if you use the BNB Smart Chain for DeFi activities. Every transaction on BSC (PancakeSwap, Venus, etc.) requires a small BNB payment for gas. Gas fees on BSC are typically:
- $0.01–$0.20 per transaction (much cheaper than Ethereum)
If you plan to use BSC DeFi, keep a small amount of BNB in your BSC wallet (Trust Wallet, MetaMask configured for BSC) for gas.
Storing BNB
On Binance: Best for trading. Your BNB is instantly usable for trading fees and trading.
In a personal wallet: Withdraw BNB to Trust Wallet, MetaMask (configured for BSC), or a hardware wallet for self-custody.
When withdrawing BNB from Binance, use the BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20) network for the lowest withdrawal fees and compatibility with most wallets.
BNB Price and Market Information
BNB price fluctuates like any cryptocurrency. Key factors that influence BNB price:
- Binance's trading volume: More trading = more BNB used for fees
- BNB burn events: Binance regularly burns BNB tokens (permanently removes them from supply), which reduces total supply over time
- BNB Chain ecosystem growth: More DeFi and NFT activity on BSC drives demand
- Crypto market overall: BNB generally correlates with broader market trends
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need BNB to trade on Binance? No. BNB is optional. But using it for fees saves you 25%.
Can I use BNB for anything other than fees? Yes — BSC transactions, Launchpad participation, Binance Pay, and more.
What happens if my BNB runs out mid-trade? The fee is deducted in the traded asset instead. You lose the discount for that trade.
Is BNB a good investment? That depends on your risk tolerance and research. BNB has shown strong historical performance, but like all crypto it carries risk. This is not financial advice — do your own research.
Get Started Today
Ready to begin? Sign up on Binance using our referral link and enjoy permanent trading fee discounts.
You can also download the Binance app to trade anytime, anywhere.