ChainsBNB Chain: chain ID, RPC URLs and explorers

BNB Chain: chain ID, RPC URLs and explorers

A BSC RPC is the URL a wallet uses to reach BNB Smart Chain, chain ID 56, and BNB Chain's own docs give https://bsc-dataseed.bnbchain.org as the default. BNB, the coin that pays every fee here, is $688.74 at this check.

By Onchain Wiki editors · checked November 10, 2026, 11:17 UTC

BNB Smart Chain network details, RPCs tested November 10, 2026
Chain ID	56 (0x38)
Native token	BNB
Public RPC	`https://bsc-dataseed.bnbchain.org` `https://bsc-rpc.publicnode.com`
Explorer	bscscan.com
USDT contract	`0x55d398326f99059fF775485246999027B3197955`
USDC contract	None listed by the issuer
Mainnet since	September 1, 2020
Official docs	docs.bnbchain.org/bnb-smart-chain/developers/wallet-configuration

BNB Chain ID and Wallet Settings

The BNB chain ID is 56, or 0x38 in hex, and it is the first of five wallet settings for BNB Smart Chain, the smart contract network known as BSC. These wallet settings are copied from BNB Chain's wallet configuration page and match the chainid.network registry.²

BSC mainnet settings from docs.bnbchain.org, read November 8, 2026
Field	Value
Network name	BSC Mainnet
Chain ID	56
Currency symbol	BNB
RPC URL	`https://bsc-dataseed.bnbchain.org`
Block explorer	`https://bscscan.com`

BSC RPC Endpoints and Their Limits

BSC RPC endpoints from BNB Chain carry a limit of 10K requests every 5 minutes, and they turn off eth_getLogs, the call apps use to pull event history.³ Both endpoints below returned 0x38 to eth_chainId on November 8, 2026.

https://bsc-dataseed.bnbchain.org, BNB Chain's default endpoint.
https://bsc-rpc.publicnode.com, a free endpoint from PublicNode that chainid.network lists too.⁴

An app that reads logs all day needs a provider without that block. For test BNB on the testnet, the BNB testnet faucet page lists the faucets that work.

How BNB Smart Chain Works and Where It Came From

BNB Smart Chain works on Proof of Staked Authority, a model where a limited set of validators who stake BNB take turns producing blocks.⁵ It runs Ethereum-style contracts, so the same tools and address format apply, and BNB pays for every transaction.⁶ That last point catches people out: a wallet holding tokens on BSC but no BNB cannot move them.

Binance launched the network as Binance Smart Chain on September 1, 2020.⁷ On February 15, 2022 it took the BNB Chain name, and BNB was recast as Build and Build.⁸

Who Issues USDT and USDC on BSC

USDT and USDC on BSC are issued by Binance, not by Tether or Circle. Tether's supported protocols page lists BNB Smart Chain only for its gold token, XAU₮, with no USDT contract.⁹ The USDT that wallets show on BSC is Binance-Peg BSC-USD at 0x55d398326f99059fF775485246999027B3197955, a token Binance mints against USDT it holds; CoinGecko and BscScan both tie that address to Binance.¹¹ The BEP20 page covers the token standard behind it.

Circle's USDC address list has no BNB Smart Chain entry.¹² The USDC found on BSC is a Binance-Peg version issued by Binance.¹³ DefiLlama counts $9.2 billion of USDT on the chain at this check, and the chains hub sets BSC beside the others.

Questions People Ask About BNB Chain: chain ID, RPC URLs and explorers

These are the questions people ask next about BNB Chain: chain ID, RPC URLs and explorers.

What is the BSC chain ID?

The BSC chain ID is 56, which is 0x38 in hex. BNB Chain's docs and the chainid.network registry agree, and the number is the same whether a wallet labels the network BSC, BNB Smart Chain or BNB Chain.

What is the BSC RPC URL?

The BSC RPC URL in BNB Chain's wallet guide is https://bsc-dataseed.bnbchain.org. It passed our November 8, 2026 test. BNB Chain caps its public endpoints at 10K requests per 5 minutes and blocks eth_getLogs on them.

Is BSC-USD the same as USDT?

BSC-USD is the USDT most wallets display on BNB Smart Chain, but Binance issues it, not Tether. It is backed by USDT that Binance holds, and Tether's own list has no USDT contract on BSC.

Why do I need BNB to send tokens on BNB Chain?

You need BNB to send tokens on BNB Chain because BNB is the only coin the network accepts for transaction fees. BNB Chain's docs call it the native utility token used to pay fees, so keep a small amount beside any token you plan to move.

Sources

Every number on this page comes from these sources, checked November 10, 2026.