BNB Chain Sees Renewed Growth as Institutions and DeFi Return in 2025

After a sluggish 2023, BNB Chain, the Binance-affiliated layer-1 blockchain, is showing clear signs of recovery amid growing institutional adoption, revived DeFi activity, and ETF interest. Its native token BNB is currently trading at $598.73, marking a strong comeback with a market capitalization nearing $85 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

The rebound is fueled by multibillion-dollar inflows into DeFi protocols, surging trading volumes on Binance, and a broader narrative shift toward real-world use cases and institutional-grade products.

DeFi Inflows Surpass $6B on BNB Chain

According to DeFiLlama, total value locked (TVL) on BNB Chain has jumped from $3.5 billion in early 2024 to over $6 billion as of May 7, 2025 — a 71% increase year-to-date. While it still trails its all-time high of over $20 billion in 2022, the upward momentum marks renewed confidence in the ecosystem.

PancakeSwap, the largest DEX on BNB Chain, accounts for about $1.5 billion in TVL, underscoring the blockchain’s strength in core DeFi sectors such as DEXs, lending, and liquid staking.

“BNB Chain remains a more concentrated, old-fashioned smart contract platform compared to rivals like Ethereum and Solana,” Standard Chartered wrote in a May research note. “But this structure provides a degree of stability, which may be appealing in volatile macroeconomic conditions.”

Institutional Tailwinds Strengthen BNB's Trajectory

BNB Chain’s resilience is also supported by its connection to Binance, which saw a record $76 trillion in trading volume in 2024 and now accounts for roughly 40% of global spot crypto trading, according to Standard Chartered. This strong CEX backbone has given BNB Chain an edge in sustaining and scaling its infrastructure.

In a major development, VanEck filed for the first U.S.-based BNB ETF on May 5, aiming to capitalize on the growing institutional demand for Binance-linked assets. If approved, it could be a watershed moment for BNB’s presence in traditional markets.

Additionally, the Trump-endorsed USD1 stablecoin — issued primarily on BNB Chain — now boasts over $2 billion in circulation, with 99% of supply hosted on the network, per BscScan. This adds another layer of real-world utility and visibility to the ecosystem.

BNB Price Outlook and Market Sentiment

With BNB currently holding firm near the $600 level, some analysts predict continued upward momentum. Standard Chartered forecasts BNB could hit $2,775 by 2028, citing strong fundamentals and BNB Chain’s growing relevance in institutional conversations.

Joao Wedson, CEO of Alphractal, noted in an April post that “BNB’s price resilience reflects not just speculation, but extensive real-world utility across the Binance ecosystem.”

BNB Chain’s comeback in 2025 demonstrates the growing synergy between institutional capital, DeFi innovation, and centralized infrastructure. While challenges remain — including a more limited set of use cases compared to newer L1s — its stability, growing adoption, and real-world integrations have firmly re-established it as a key player in the evolving blockchain economy, according to Cointelegraph.