Why do I need BNB to send BEP20 tokens in Trust Wallet?

To send BEP20 tokens like BUSD or CAKE on Trust Wallet, you need BNB for gas fees, as Binance Smart Chain requires BNB to process transactions.

Aug 10, 2025 at 09:36 pm

Understanding BNB and Its Role in the Binance Smart Chain

When using Trust Wallet to send BEP20 tokens, you may notice that a small amount of BNB (Binance Coin) is required, even if you're only transferring a different BEP20 token like BUSD, CAKE, or any other. This is because BEP20 tokens operate on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), a blockchain network that relies on BNB as its native gas token. Every transaction on the BSC, including token transfers, requires computational resources, and these resources are paid for using BNB. The term "gas" refers to the fee needed to successfully conduct a transaction or execute a smart contract on the blockchain.

The Binance Smart Chain uses a Proof-of-Staked-Authority (PoSA) consensus mechanism, where validators process transactions. To prevent spam and compensate validators, users must pay transaction fees in BNB. These fees are automatically deducted from your wallet when you initiate any action on the BSC network, such as sending tokens, swapping assets, or interacting with decentralized applications (dApps). Without sufficient BNB in your wallet, the network will reject your transaction, even if you have plenty of the BEP20 token you're trying to send.

How Gas Fees Work When Sending BEP20 Tokens

Every time you send a BEP20 token from your Trust Wallet, the transaction must be validated and recorded on the Binance Smart Chain. This process consumes network resources, and the cost is measured in gas. The gas fee is always paid in BNB, regardless of which BEP20 token you are transferring. The amount of gas required can vary based on network congestion and the complexity of the transaction. For a simple token transfer, the gas cost is usually low, often equivalent to just a few cents worth of BNB.

To see the exact fee before confirming a transaction in Trust Wallet:

• Open the send function for your BEP20 token.
• Enter the recipient address and the amount.
• The app will automatically calculate and display the estimated gas fee in BNB.
• You can adjust the gas price (in Gwei) if you want faster confirmation, though Trust Wallet typically uses a standard rate.

It's important to understand that you cannot use the BEP20 token itself to pay for gas. Only BNB serves this function on the BSC. If your wallet has 100 BUSD but zero BNB, you won't be able to send even 1 BUSD because there's no BNB to cover the transaction fee.

Setting Up Your Trust Wallet for BEP20 Transactions

To successfully send BEP20 tokens via Trust Wallet, your wallet must meet certain requirements. First, ensure that your Trust Wallet is connected to the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) network. By default, Trust Wallet supports multiple blockchains, but you need to make sure the correct network is active for BEP20 tokens.

To verify or add the BSC network:

• Open Trust Wallet and go to the Wallets tab.
• Tap the "+" icon to add a new blockchain if BSC isn't visible.
• Search for BNB Smart Chain (BSC) and enable it.
• Once enabled, your wallet will display your BNB balance and any BEP20 tokens on the BSC.

Next, ensure you have a small amount of BNB in your wallet. This can be obtained by:

• Buying BNB directly within Trust Wallet using a credit card or bank transfer.
• Receiving BNB from another wallet or exchange.
• Swapping another cryptocurrency for BNB using the built-in DEX feature in Trust Wallet.

After BNB is present in your wallet, you can proceed to send any BEP20 token. The app will automatically deduct the gas fee from your BNB balance when you confirm the transaction.

Common Mistakes When Sending BEP20 Tokens

One of the most frequent errors users make is assuming that having a BEP20 token is sufficient to send it. For example, a user might hold 1000 Shiba Inu (SHIB) on the BSC network but attempt to send it without any BNB. The transaction will fail, and the user may see an error like "Insufficient BNB for gas" or "Transaction reverted". This is not a bug in Trust Wallet but a fundamental rule of how blockchain networks operate.

Another common mistake is sending BNB to the wrong network. If you accidentally send BNB via the BEP2 (Binance Chain) instead of BEP20 (BSC), it may still arrive, but the gas used will differ, and compatibility with smart contracts will be lost. Always confirm that your BNB is on the BSC network when planning to send BEP20 tokens.

Additionally, users sometimes overlook network fees during token swaps. If you're swapping one BEP20 token for another within Trust Wallet, you still need BNB to pay for the gas. Even if the swap appears free in terms of token cost, the underlying transaction on the blockchain requires BNB.

How to Acquire BNB for Gas Fees in Trust Wallet

Obtaining BNB for gas fees is a straightforward process within Trust Wallet. The app provides several integrated options:

• Tap the "Buy" option on the home screen and select BNB.
• Choose your preferred payment method (credit card, Apple Pay, etc.).
• Complete the purchase through a third-party provider like MoonPay or Mercuryo.
• The BNB will be sent directly to your Trust Wallet on the BSC network.

Alternatively, you can receive BNB from another wallet:

• Tap on your BNB asset in Trust Wallet.
• Select "Receive" to display your BSC wallet address.
• Share this address with the sender, ensuring they send BNB via the Binance Smart Chain (BSC/BEP20) network.
• Never share your private key or recovery phrase.

You can also swap another cryptocurrency in your wallet for BNB:

• Use the "Swap" feature in Trust Wallet.
• Select a token you own (e.g., BUSD) and swap it for BNB.
• Confirm the transaction, ensuring you have enough of the source token to cover both the swap and the BNB gas fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any other token besides BNB to pay for gas on BSC?

No. Only BNB can be used to pay gas fees on the Binance Smart Chain. No other BEP20 token, including stablecoins or utility tokens, can substitute for BNB in covering transaction costs.

What happens if I try to send a BEP20 token without enough BNB?

The transaction will fail. Trust Wallet may allow you to enter the details, but upon confirmation, the network will reject it due to insufficient gas. No tokens will be sent, and you won't lose the BEP20 token, but you must add BNB to retry.

Is the gas fee the same for all BEP20 tokens?

Yes, the gas fee depends on the transaction type and network conditions, not the specific BEP20 token being sent. Sending 1 BUSD or 1000 CAKE will cost approximately the same in BNB gas fees.

Can I recover BNB used for failed transactions?

No. If a transaction fails due to insufficient funds or a smart contract error, the gas fee in BNB is still consumed because the network processed the attempt. Always ensure sufficient BNB before sending.