Method 1: Automatic via ChainList (Recommended)
The fastest and safest way — ChainList pulls verified network settings directly.
- Go to chainlist.org
- Connect your MetaMask wallet (click “Connect Wallet” top right)
- Search for “BNB Smart Chain”
- Find the entry with Chain ID 56
- Click “Add to MetaMask”
- MetaMask will pop up with the network details — click “Approve”
- Click “Switch network” if prompted
That’s it. BNB Chain is now available in your network selector.
Method 2: Manual Entry
If you prefer to add it manually or ChainList isn’t accessible:
- Open MetaMask
- Click the network selector at the top (shows “Ethereum Mainnet” by default)
- Click “Add network”
- Click “Add a network manually”
- Enter these exact details:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Network Name | BNB Smart Chain |
| New RPC URL | https://bsc-dataseed.binance.org/ |
| Chain ID | 56 |
| Currency Symbol | BNB |
| Block Explorer URL | https://bscscan.com |
- Click Save
- MetaMask will switch to BNB Chain automatically
How to Switch Between Networks
Once BNB Chain is added, switching is instant:
- Click the network name at the top of MetaMask
- Select BNB Smart Chain from the list
- Your BNB balance and BEP-20 tokens will now appear
To go back to Ethereum, click the network name again and select Ethereum Mainnet.
Sending and Receiving on BNB Chain
Your MetaMask address (starting with 0x...) is the same on BNB Chain as on Ethereum. This is because both are EVM-compatible blockchains.
Sending BNB or BEP-20 tokens:
- Make sure you’re on the BNB Smart Chain network
- You need BNB in your wallet to pay gas fees (not ETH)
- Gas fees on BNB Chain are typically $0.10–$0.50 — much cheaper than Ethereum
Receiving tokens:
- Share your regular
0x...address - Make sure the sender is sending on BNB Chain, not Ethereum
- Tokens sent on the wrong chain won’t appear unless you switch networks
Adding BEP-20 Tokens
Most BEP-20 tokens aren’t automatically shown in MetaMask. To add them:
- Switch to BNB Smart Chain network
- Scroll down and click “Import tokens”
- Enter the token’s contract address (find it on bscscan.com or the project’s official site)
- Symbol and decimals auto-fill
- Click Add custom token
Common Issues
BNB Chain not showing after adding:
Refresh MetaMask or close and reopen the extension. The network should appear in your selector.
“Wrong network” error on a DApp:
The DApp is asking you to switch to BNB Chain. Click the prompt in MetaMask to switch, or manually select BNB Smart Chain in the network selector.
Transaction failed — “insufficient funds”:
On BNB Chain, gas is paid in BNB. If you have no BNB, transactions will fail even if you have other tokens. Buy or bridge a small amount of BNB first.
Tokens sent to BNB Chain address but not showing:
Switch MetaMask to BNB Smart Chain network. Tokens exist on the chain — they’re just not visible while on Ethereum mainnet.
BNB Chain vs Ethereum: Key Differences
| Feature | BNB Chain | Ethereum |
|---|---|---|
| Gas token | BNB | ETH |
| Average gas cost | $0.10–$0.50 | $1–$20+ |
| Transaction speed | ~3 seconds | ~12 seconds |
| Decentralisation | Lower (21 validators) | Higher |
| DeFi ecosystem | Large | Largest |
| Chain ID | 56 | 1 |
BNB Chain is faster and cheaper — a good choice for smaller, frequent transactions. Ethereum has the largest, most established DeFi ecosystem.
Related guides:
- MetaMask: The Complete Guide 2026
- How to Add Polygon to MetaMask
- How to Add a Custom Network to MetaMask
- MetaMask Transaction Pending — Fix
