Why does Trust Wallet say insufficient BNB for gas fee?

To perform transactions on Binance Smart Chain with Trust Wallet, you need sufficient BNB to cover gas fees, even when using BEP-20 tokens like BUSD or CAKE.

Jul 01, 2025 at 10:57 pm

Understanding the BNB Requirement in Trust Wallet

When using Trust Wallet to interact with Binance Smart Chain (BSC) or other BNB-based networks, users may encounter an error message stating: "Insufficient BNB for gas fee." This message indicates that the wallet does not have enough BNB to cover the gas fees required to execute a transaction on the blockchain.

Gas fees on the Binance Smart Chain are paid in BNB, and they are essential for performing actions such as sending tokens, swapping assets, or interacting with decentralized applications (dApps). Even if you hold BEP-20 tokens like BUSD or CAKE, you still need a small amount of BNB to pay for the computational resources used during transactions.

Reasons Behind the 'Insufficient BNB' Error

There are several reasons why this error might appear:

• No BNB in the wallet: The most straightforward reason is that there is absolutely no BNB in the wallet address.
• Low BNB balance: If only a minimal amount of BNB is present, it might not be sufficient to cover the current network gas price.
• Network congestion: During high traffic periods, gas prices can spike, requiring more BNB than usual.
• Incorrect network selection: Attempting to send BEP-20 tokens on a different chain (like Ethereum) without ETH will also trigger similar errors.

It's crucial to ensure that your BNB balance is adequate for the current gas rate before attempting any transaction.

How Gas Fees Are Calculated on Binance Smart Chain

The total gas cost in Trust Wallet is calculated based on two main components:

• Gas limit: The maximum number of computational steps a transaction is allowed to use.
• Gas price: The amount of BNB you're willing to pay per unit of gas.

For example, a simple token transfer typically has a gas limit of 21,000 units. If the gas price is set at 5 gwei (or 0.000000005 BNB per unit), then the total cost would be:

21,000 0.000000005 BNB = 0.000105 BNB*

If your wallet holds less than this amount, Trust Wallet will display the "insufficient BNB" warning.

Steps to Resolve the Insufficient BNB Issue

To resolve this issue, follow these detailed steps:

• Check your BNB balance:

  • Open Trust Wallet
  • Navigate to the Wallet tab
  • Look for the BNB balance under the Binance Smart Chain section

• Acquire additional BNB:

  • Purchase BNB directly from within Trust Wallet via partnered exchanges
  • Transfer BNB from another wallet or exchange account
  • Use a cross-chain bridge if coming from another network

• Verify network compatibility:

  • Ensure you are on the correct network when sending or receiving BEP-20 tokens
  • Go to Settings > Network and confirm that Binance Smart Chain is selected

• Adjust gas settings (advanced):

  • Tap on Edit Gas when prompted during a transaction
  • Lower the gas price slightly if the network isn't congested
  • Be cautious—setting too low a gas price may result in failed or delayed transactions

• Wait for lower gas prices:

  • Monitor tools like BscScan Gas Tracker to determine optimal times for sending transactions
  • Perform non-urgent transactions during off-peak hours

Common Misconceptions About Gas Fees and BNB Usage

Some users assume that holding large amounts of BEP-20 tokens eliminates the need for BNB. That’s incorrect.

• You always need BNB for gas: Regardless of how many BEP-20 tokens you own, you must have BNB to pay for transaction fees on the Binance Smart Chain.
• Gas fees aren’t fixed: They fluctuate based on network usage, so what works today might not work tomorrow.
• BNB cannot be replaced by other tokens: While some wallets offer gas abstraction features, Trust Wallet requires native BNB for all gas payments.

Another misconception is that the gas limit can be arbitrarily reduced to save costs. However, setting a gas limit below the minimum required will cause the transaction to fail, even if BNB is available.

Troubleshooting Tips When the Problem Persists

Even after adding BNB, some users continue to see the insufficient balance error. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

• Ensure correct token import: If you imported a custom token, double-check the contract address and decimals. Incorrect parameters can sometimes interfere with normal operations.
• Clear cache and restart Trust Wallet: Sometimes cached data causes incorrect balance displays.
  • Go to Settings > General > Reset App Data
  • Restart the app and check again
• Try a new wallet address: Occasionally, certain addresses may experience syncing issues. Create a new wallet or restore using your recovery phrase in a fresh installation.
• Use BscScan to verify BNB balance: Visit https://bscscan.com/ and search for your wallet address to confirm actual BNB balance.
• Contact support: If none of the above works, reach out to Trust Wallet Support through their official channels for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use stablecoins like BUSD to pay for gas fees instead of BNB?

No, gas fees on the Binance Smart Chain must be paid in BNB. Stablecoins like BUSD are BEP-20 tokens and cannot be used to pay for gas.

Is there a minimum amount of BNB required to perform transactions?

While there's no strict minimum, having at least 0.01 BNB ensures you can handle basic transactions under normal network conditions.

Why did my transaction fail even though I had BNB in my wallet?

This could happen due to low gas limits, network congestion, or temporary sync issues in the wallet. Always review gas settings and retry if necessary.

Can I receive BEP-20 tokens without having BNB in my wallet?

Yes, you can receive BEP-20 tokens without BNB. However, to send or interact with those tokens, you’ll need BNB for gas fees.