BNB Chain is seeing a surge in momentum, with record user activity, rising revenues, and a new all-time high for its native token, BNB. The latest growth wave comes as Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) revealed plans for a $1 billion BNB Treasury Company, sparking speculation about his possible return to Binance leadership.
Record Network Growth
On Sept. 17, BNB Chain hit a new milestone with 51.6 million monthly active addresses, surpassing its previous peak from 2024, according to Token Terminal data. Fees collected over the last 30 days reached $13.2 million, up more than 24%, while network revenue rose 23% to $1.4 million—evidence that user activity on the chain continues to accelerate.
Transaction counts further confirm BNB Chain’s strong position. With 9.2 billion transactions, it remains one of the top three Layer 1 networks, behind Internet Computer and Solana.
As of September, BNB Chain supports more than 1,095 projects across DeFi, gaming, and NFTs, with total value locked (TVL) sitting at $7.68 billion. While that’s still below its 2021 peak, growth in stablecoin circulation and liquidity has helped strengthen the ecosystem.
Why It’s Growing
Speaking to crypto.news, Marwan Kawadri, DeFi lead and head of EMEA at BNB Chain, credited the momentum to the network’s 4 million daily active users and over 625 million unique addresses. He added that the chain is working toward a “CEX-like experience,” where transactions confirm in under 150 milliseconds—bringing blockchain settlement closer to centralized exchange speed.
“BNB Chain is targeting to become a settlement layer and financial infrastructure for all assets,” Kawadri said. “Its form is still evolving, but the vision is broad: to support every type of financial activity, built together with the community.”
BNB Price Breaks $1,000
The growth in on-chain activity has been mirrored in BNB’s price action. On Sept. 18, the token hit a new all-time high of $1,000, before consolidating near $989 at press time. Over the past week, BNB has gained more than 10%, fueled by optimism around Zhao’s new initiatives.
Part of the bullish sentiment stems from Zhao’s announcement of the BNB Treasury Company, a $1 billion fund aimed at supporting institutional-grade projects. Backed by YZi Labs, the initiative will focus only on top-tier companies and is designed to solidify BNB’s role as a utility token across both centralized and decentralized platforms.
CZ Comeback Rumors
Adding fuel to speculation, Zhao updated his X profile on Sept. 17, changing it back from “ex-@binance” to simply “@binance.” The move has led many to wonder if he’s preparing a return to Binance leadership.
Zhao stepped down as CEO in late 2023 after Binance reached a $4.3 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over AML violations. But reports suggest that the DOJ may soon ease compliance restrictions on Binance, raising questions about Zhao’s future role.
Still, Zhao has publicly stated he doesn’t intend to return as CEO. Whether or not he takes on a formal role, his continued involvement and the Treasury Company announcement have clearly energized the BNB ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture
BNB Chain’s combination of record network activity, strong liquidity, and renewed confidence from its founder has pushed the ecosystem into a new growth phase. With its token crossing the $1,000 milestone, a deeper institutional push on the horizon, and a roadmap targeting near-instant transaction finality, BNB Chain is positioning itself as a core settlement layer for the next generation of onchain finance.
