#StaySAFU
The **BNB** (symbol: BNB) is the native digital currency of the **Binance Chain** and **Binance Smart Chain** (BSC), developed by the **Binance** platform, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world.
### **Basic Information about BNB**:
- **Full Name**: Binance Coin (BNB).
- **Launch Date**: July 2017 (as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, then migrated to its own chain).
- **Main Uses**:
- Paying trading fees on the Binance platform (discount when using BNB).
- Running smart contracts on Binance Smart Chain (BSC).
- Participating in initial coin offerings (Launchpad).
- Trading and investing as a digital asset.
### **Features of BNB**:
✅ **Periodic Coin Burn**: Binance periodically burns a portion of BNB to reduce supply and increase scarcity.
✅ **Low Transaction Costs**: Compared to Ethereum, BSC offers much lower fees.
✅ **Wide Popularity**: Due to Binance's support and the proliferation of BSC in the DeFi and NFT world.
### **Criticism and Risks**:
⚠ **Centralization of Binance Smart Chain**: Considered less decentralized than Ethereum.
⚠ **Vulnerability to Hacks**: BSC has experienced some security vulnerabilities in smart contracts.
⚠ **Market Volatility**: Like any cryptocurrency, it is subject to significant fluctuations.
### **Current Price of BNB** (updated periodically):
- **Market Capitalization**: Among the top 5 cryptocurrencies.
- **All-Time High Price**: Reached ~$686 in May 2021.
### **Summary**:
BNB is a strong coin backed by Binance, playing a key role in the BSC economy.