Binance Coin (BNB)
A cryptocurrency that can be used to trade and pay fees on the Binance cryptocurrency exchange
What is Binance Coin (BNB)?
Binance Coin (BNB) is a cryptocurrency that can be used to trade and pay fees on the Binance cryptocurrency exchange. The Binance Exchange is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world as of January 2018, facilitating more than 1.4 million transactions per second.
Users of Binance Coin receive a discount in transaction fees on the Binance Exchange as an incentive. BNB can also be exchanged or traded for other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, etc.
Binance Coin was created in July 2017 and initially worked on the ethereum blockchain with the token ERC-20 before it became the native currency of Binance’s own blockchain, the Binance Chain.
Uses of Binance Coin
Just like other evolving cryptocurrencies, the Binance Coin offers several uses that go beyond the Binance exchange, such as
- Trading: Binance Coin can be traded for other cryptocurrencies on various exchanges, depending on the restrictions set by the exchange.
- Transaction fees on the Binance Exchange: BNB can be used to pay for transactions on the Binance Exchange, and users also receive a discount for doing so.
- Credit card payments: BNB can be the form of payment for crypto credit card bills on Crypto.com.
- Payment processing: Merchants can offer BNB as a means of payment for customers, offering more flexibility in payment methods.
- Booking travel arrangements: BNB can be used to book hotels and flights on select websites.
- Entertainment: From paying for virtual gifts to buying lottery tickets, BNB serves several purposes in the entertainment space.
- Investment: Several platforms allow investors to invest in stocks, ETFs, and other assets using Binance Coin.
- Loans and transfers: BNB can be used as collateral for loans on certain platforms. Also, there are apps that allow users to split bills and pay friends and family through Binance Coin.
Binance Coin: Initial Coin Offering
Binance Coin was launched with an initial coin offering (ICO) in July 2017. As part of the ICO, BNB tokens were distributed among various participants, including angel investors and the Binance founding team.
Here’s a brief breakdown of how BNB tokens were initially distributed:
- Founding team: 40% (80 million BNB)
- Angel investors: 10% (20 million BNB)
- Public sale: 50% (100 million BNB)
All of the 100 million BNB tokens available for public sale were sold during the ICO at 15 cents per token. Therefore, Binance raised a total of US$15 million in bitcoin and ethereum.
From the $15 million that was raised, 35% was allocated to upgrading the Binance platform and exchange system; 50% was allocated for Binance branding, marketing, and education of new innovators; and the remaining 15% was used as a reserve in case of any emergencies or unprecedented circumstances.
BNB Burning
As mentioned in the Binance whitepaper, every quarter, Binance uses 20% of its profits to buy back and burn Binance Coins, destroying them completely. Binance has consistently performed quarterly burns, the latest being the 13th quarterly burn on October 17, 2020.
Binance will continue to perform quarterly burns until it buys back and destroys 100 million Binance coins – 50% of the total supply. The practice ensures that the supply of Binance Coin remains finite, making it scarce and more valuable.
Additional Resources
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