BNB vs. Ethereum
A neutral side-by-side look at BNB (BNB) and Ethereum (ETH): live market data, how each one works and what it's for.
BNB is the coin of BNB Chain, a blockchain created by the Binance exchange that is compatible with Ethereum apps and wallets. Ethereum is the original smart-contract platform, run by a large, independent set of validators. BNB Chain is cheaper to use; Ethereum is far more decentralized.
Live comparison
| Measure | BNB BNB | Ethereum ETH |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Market cap | — | — |
| Market cap rank | — | — |
| 24h trading volume | — | — |
| 24h change | — | — |
| 7-day change | — | — |
| Circulating supply | — | — |
| Maximum supply (CoinGecko) | — | — |
Loading live market data…
Key facts side by side
| Measure | BNB BNB | Ethereum ETH |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2017 | 2015 (July 30) |
| Created by | Binance, the exchange founded by Changpeng Zhao | Vitalik Buterin and co-founders; supported by the Ethereum Foundation |
| How it's secured | Proof of staked authority (a set of BNB Chain validators) | Proof of stake (since the Merge in September 2022) |
| What it's for | Fees on BNB Chain, plus discounts and services on Binance | A platform for smart contracts: home of most tokens, stablecoins, DeFi and NFTs |
| Maximum supply | Started at 200 million BNB; regular burns are reducing it toward 100 million | No fixed maximum (new ETH goes to validators; part of every fee is burned) |
How they differ
- Who runs it: BNB Chain has a small set of validators and is closely tied to one company, Binance. Ethereum is secured by a very large, independent set of validators and has no controlling company.
- Compatibility: BNB Chain runs the same kind of smart contracts as Ethereum, so many apps and wallets work on both.
- Supply: BNB started at 200 million and is being burned toward 100 million. ETH has no fixed cap.
- Fees: BNB Chain fees are typically lower than Ethereum's base layer.
This page compares how two cryptocurrencies work. It doesn't say which to buy, and nobody can reliably predict their prices. Both can fall sharply. Read how to research a cryptocurrency before deciding anything.
Questions
Is BNB better than Ethereum?
Neither is better in every way. BNB Chain trades decentralization for lower fees and depends heavily on Binance; Ethereum is more decentralized and has the larger ecosystem. This isn't advice to buy either.
Is BNB on Ethereum?
BNB started as a token on Ethereum in 2017, then moved to Binance's own blockchain. Today's BNB is the native coin of BNB Chain. Always check which network you're sending on.
Why is one coin's price so much higher than the other's?
The price of a single coin mostly reflects how many coins exist. BNB and Ethereum have very different supplies, so comparing prices per coin is misleading. Market cap (price × coins in circulation) is a better measure of size; see market cap explained.
Where does the live data come from?
From CoinGecko's public API, averaged across many exchanges and refreshed about once a minute. The facts table comes from each project's own documentation and the references listed under Sources.
Where to next
Sources
- BNB Chain documentation
- Binance (Wikipedia)
- What is ether? (ethereum.org)
- The Merge (ethereum.org)
- ETH supply after the Merge (ethereum.org)
- CoinGecko API (live market data)
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of October 29, 2026. Live data by CoinGecko, for information only and possibly delayed. Educational only; not financial advice. How we write and check pages.