How to fix insufficient BNB smart chain for gas fee on Trust Wallet?

To perform transactions on Binance Smart Chain using Trust Wallet, you need BEP-20 BNB for gas fees—even if you have plenty of other tokens like BUSD or CAKE.

Aug 05, 2025 at 04:28 am

Understanding the Role of BNB in Binance Smart Chain Transactions

When using Trust Wallet to interact with decentralized applications (dApps) or perform token transfers on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), a common issue users face is the "insufficient BNB for gas fee" error. This occurs because every transaction on the BSC requires a small amount of BNB to pay for computational resources, known as gas fees. Unlike BEP-20 tokens such as BUSD or CAKE, which represent value, BNB serves as the native utility token of the BSC network and is essential for validating and processing transactions.

Even if you hold large amounts of BEP-20 tokens in your Trust Wallet, you cannot send or interact with them without sufficient BNB in your wallet’s BSC balance. This is analogous to needing fuel to drive a car, regardless of how much cargo it carries. The network does not accept other tokens as payment for gas, so BNB must be present in the same wallet address used for BSC operations.

How to Check Your BNB Balance in Trust Wallet

To resolve the gas fee issue, you must first confirm whether you actually lack BNB. Open Trust Wallet and ensure you are viewing your Binance Smart Chain wallet. Tap on the main wallet view and locate BNB in your asset list. If BNB is not visible, tap the "+" icon to search and add it. The balance displayed next to BNB reflects the amount available for gas.

It is critical to distinguish between BEP-2 BNB (used on the Binance Chain) and BEP-20 BNB (used on Binance Smart Chain). Only BEP-20 BNB can pay for BSC gas fees. If your BNB is in BEP-2 format, it must be converted or bridged to BEP-20. You can verify the token standard by tapping on the BNB entry and checking the contract or network details. If it shows Binance Smart Chain, it is BEP-20 and usable for gas.

Acquiring BNB for Gas Fees

If your wallet lacks BNB, you need to acquire a small amount. Several methods exist:

• Purchase BNB directly within Trust Wallet: Tap the "Buy" option, select your preferred fiat currency, and choose a payment method such as credit card or bank transfer. Select BNB and ensure the network is set to Binance Smart Chain (BEP-20) during checkout.
• Receive BNB from another wallet: Ask a friend or use another exchange account to send BEP-20 BNB to your Trust Wallet address. Always double-check the recipient address and confirm the sender uses the BSC (BEP-20) network.
• Withdraw BNB from an exchange: If you have BNB on Binance or another exchange, go to the withdrawal section, enter your Trust Wallet BSC address, and select BEP-20 as the network. Withdraw a small amount (e.g., 0.01 BNB) to cover multiple transactions.

Never send BNB via the BEP-2 or ERC-20 networks to a Trust Wallet BSC address unless you are using a bridge, as this may result in permanent loss.

Transferring BNB to Your Trust Wallet: Step-by-Step Guide

To ensure BNB arrives correctly and is usable for gas, follow these precise steps:

• Open Trust Wallet and navigate to the BNB asset page.
• Tap the "Receive" button and confirm the network displayed is Binance Smart Chain (BSC).
• Copy the BSC-compatible wallet address shown.
• Log in to your exchange or sending wallet and initiate a BNB withdrawal.
• Paste the copied address into the recipient field.
• Select BEP-20 (Binance Smart Chain) as the withdrawal network.
• Enter the amount of BNB to send (minimum 0.005 BNB is recommended for gas coverage).
• Confirm the transaction and wait for blockchain confirmation, which usually takes 1–3 minutes.

After the transaction confirms, return to Trust Wallet and pull down to refresh. The BNB balance should now appear and be ready for gas payments.

Using BNB for Gas in dApp Interactions

Once BNB is in your wallet, you can proceed with any BEP-20 token transaction or dApp interaction. For example, when swapping tokens on PancakeSwap:

• Connect your Trust Wallet to PancakeSwap via WalletConnect.
• Select the tokens you wish to trade.
• The interface will automatically calculate the gas fee in BNB.
• Review the transaction details, ensuring the estimated network fee is covered by your BNB balance.
• Approve the token (if required), then confirm the swap in Trust Wallet.
• The app will prompt you to sign the transaction using your wallet, deducting the gas fee from your BNB balance.

If the transaction fails with a gas error, it typically means insufficient BNB or network congestion. Increasing the gas limit manually (if supported) or retrying with a higher BNB balance resolves this.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users encounter issues due to simple errors. One frequent mistake is sending BNB via the wrong network. Sending ERC-20 BNB from Ethereum to a BSC address without bridging will result in loss. Always match the sending network with the receiving network.

Another issue is confusing testnet BNB with mainnet BNB. If you obtained BNB from a faucet for the BSC testnet, it holds no value and cannot be used on the mainnet. Ensure you are operating on the BSC mainnet, not the testnet, within Trust Wallet settings.

Also, some users hide BNB in their asset list, leading them to believe they have none. Tap the "Show" option in the wallet to reveal all assets. Lastly, network selection errors in exchanges—choosing BEP-2 instead of BEP-20—can send funds to an incompatible chain. Always verify the network before confirming any transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use BUSD or other BEP-20 tokens to pay for gas fees on BSC?

No. Only BNB in BEP-20 format can be used to pay gas fees on the Binance Smart Chain. The network does not accept alternative tokens for transaction validation, even if they are on the same blockchain.

What happens if I send BNB via the ERC-20 network to my Trust Wallet?

If you send ERC-20 BNB to your Trust Wallet BSC address, the funds will not appear because they are on a different blockchain. You must use a cross-chain bridge to convert ERC-20 BNB to BEP-20 BNB, or contact the sending platform for recovery options if supported.

How much BNB do I need for a single transaction?

The required amount varies with network congestion. Typically, 0.001 to 0.005 BNB covers a standard token transfer. More complex interactions like liquidity additions or contract approvals may require slightly more. Always keep a small reserve.

Why doesn’t my BNB show up after sending?

Possible reasons include: the transaction is still pending, you sent it on the wrong network, or your wallet hasn’t refreshed. Wait a few minutes, pull down to refresh, and check the transaction on a BSC block explorer like BscScan using your wallet address.