How to Distinguish Between Binance BEP-20 and BNB Beacon Chain Deposits?
BEP-20 and BEP-2 have similar names, but they run on two completely independent blockchains. The most straightforward way to tell them apart is checking the address format and whether a Memo is required: BEP-20 addresses start with 0x and do not need a Memo; BEP-2 addresses start with bnb1 and a valid Memo is mandatory for deposits.
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1. Prerequisite: Clarify the relationship between the two chains
Before depositing BNB, you first need to confirm which blockchain your BNB is held on.
BEP-2 and BEP-20 are two separate token standards in the BNB ecosystem, operating on two distinct chains:
| Comparison Dimension | BEP-2 | BEP-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Host Blockchain | BNB Beacon Chain (launched 2019, formerly Binance Chain) | BNB Smart Chain (abbreviated as BSC, formerly Binance Smart Chain) |
| Address Format | Starts with bnb1, e.g. bnb1... | Starts with 0x, identical to Ethereum address format, e.g. 0x... |
| Memo Required? | Mandatory — you must fill in the Memo for deposits, otherwise the system cannot identify your transaction | Not required — the deposit address is unique, you only need to fill in the address directly |
| Functional Features | Designed for high-speed transfers and exchange settlement, no smart contract support, no dApp compatibility | Smart contract compatible, EVM equivalent, supports DeFi and all dApps, far richer functionality |
| Current Status | Support being phased out — Binance has gradually suspended BEP-2 deposit and withdrawal services from November 2024, the BEP-2 network is being retired | Current mainstream standard — used for all regular BNB deposits and the entire BSC ecosystem |
2. Step 1: Confirm which network you are using
Verify where your BNB is stored and which network it uses before initiating any deposit operation.
Scenario A: Withdraw BNB from a centralized exchange to Binance Enter the withdrawal page and check the network selection list. If the list shows both "BNB Smart Chain (BEP20)" and "BNB Beacon Chain (BEP2)" options:
Select BNB Smart Chain (BEP20), you will get a 0x-starting address, no Memo is needed
Select BNB Beacon Chain (BEP2), you will get a bnb1-starting address, and you must fill in the Memo
Scenario B: Transfer from your self-custody on-chain wallet to Binance Open your wallet first and check which blockchain it is currently connected to:
If your wallet displays "BNB Smart Chain" or "BSC", your BNB follows the BEP-20 standard, with an address starting with 0x
If your wallet displays "BNB Beacon Chain" or "Binance Chain", your BNB follows the BEP-2 standard, with an address starting with bnb1
Completion Checkpoint: You clearly confirm whether your BNB uses the BEP-20 or BEP-2 standard, and know the corresponding address format.
Common Failure Cause: Mismatched network selection. If you select BEP-2 on the withdrawal platform but select BEP-20 on Binance's deposit page, the two networks are inconsistent, and your funds will be lost permanently with no recovery option.
3. Step 2: Select the correct network on Binance's deposit page
After confirming the standard of your BNB, navigate to Binance's deposit page.
Operation Path: Binance App → [Deposit] → Select [BNB] → The system will display all supported deposit networks for BNB
Key Judgment Rules:
If your BNB is on BSC (0x-starting address) → Select BNB Smart Chain (BEP20)
If your BNB is on Beacon Chain (bnb1-starting address) → Select BNB Beacon Chain (BEP2) — please note that Binance has stopped processing all BEP-2 token deposits except for B-tokens on November 8, 2024, and the network is scheduled to be fully shut down on November 19, 2024.
Completion Checkpoint: The network you select on Binance's deposit page is 100% identical to the network your BNB is held on from the withdrawal platform or self-custody wallet.
4. Step 3: About Memo — No Memo for BEP-20, Mandatory Memo for BEP-2
This is the most common pitfall for new users.
BEP-20 (BSC): Each deposit address is unique, you only need to copy and paste the address directly, no Memo is required.
BEP-2 (Beacon Chain): All users share the same public deposit address on Binance, the platform relies entirely on the Memo to identify which user the funds belong to. If you forget to fill in the Memo, the funds will not be credited automatically.
Risk Warning: If you use the BEP-2 network but omit the Memo, you will need to submit Binance's manual recovery request, which takes a very long processing time and charges extra service fees. If the BEP-2 network has been fully shut down, your funds will be permanently unrecoverable.
5. Step 4: Final Confirmation — Summary of Differences Between the Two Chains
If you are not sure which option to select on the deposit page, cross-check with the table below:
| Judgment Reference | BEP-20 (BNB Smart Chain) | BEP-2 (BNB Beacon Chain) |
|---|---|---|
| Address Prefix | 0x | bnb1 |
| Memo Required for Deposit | No | Yes |
| Deposit Still Supported by Binance? | ✅ Fully supported, under continuous optimization | ⚠️ Mostly suspended from November 8, 2024 |
| Use Case | First choice for all current BNB deposits and BSC ecosystem interactions | Being phased out, not recommended for further use |
Completion Standard: You confirm that you are using BEP-20 (BNB Smart Chain) — the current mainstream fully supported network on Binance.
FAQ
Q: Is BEP-2 still usable now? Almost no regular use. Binance stopped processing all non-B-token BEP-2 deposits on November 8 2024, and the BEP-2 mainnet was fully shut down on November 19 2024. If you still hold BEP-2 standard BNB, you need to swap it to BEP-20 format via the official cross-chain bridge before making any transfers.
Q: Which has lower fees, BEP-20 or BEP-2? Both have very low transaction fees, but BEP-20 (BSC) is far more widely adopted at present, with ~3 second block confirmation time, full DeFi and dApp support, and far richer functionality compared to the retired BEP-2 network.
Q: I already deposited BEP-2 BNB to Binance with wrong network selection, can I recover it? Extremely difficult. Binance has issued official announcements to fully discontinue BEP-2 deposit services. If you initiated the deposit after the service cutoff date, your assets are very likely permanently unrecoverable.
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Next Steps
Open your Binance deposit page now, select BNB, and check the deposit network list. Confirm you select BNB Smart Chain (BEP20). Then select the exact same network on your withdrawal platform. As long as the two networks match and you fill in the correct address, your deposit will process with no issues. If you have not registered a Binance account yet, you can enter the invite code FYLK9104 during sign-up.
