BNB Smart Chain Gas Fees Explained (Simply)
What gas fees are, why your wallet adds them to every BNB Machine transaction, roughly what they cost on BNB Smart Chain, and how to keep them low.
A gas fee is a small payment in BNB to the BNB Smart Chain network for processing your transaction. It's charged by the blockchain, not by BNB Machine, and it's shown by your wallet before you confirm.
Why every transaction has a gas fee
BNB Smart Chain is run by validators who process transactions and keep the network secure. Gas fees pay them for that work. Whenever you change something on the blockchain, such as activating, buying tickets from your wallet or withdrawing, you pay a small fee in BNB.
Reading information is free. Signing in with your wallet is also free, because it only signs a message and doesn't send a transaction.
Which BNB Machine actions cost gas?
| Action | Gas fee? |
|---|---|
| Connecting your wallet | No |
| Signing in with wallet | No |
| Activating your account | Yes |
| Buying tickets | Yes |
| Withdrawing earnings | Yes |
| Moving earnings to play | Yes |
| Collecting Rank Pool rewards | Yes |
How much does gas cost on BNB Smart Chain?
BNB Smart Chain is known for low fees. A typical BNB Machine transaction costs a few cents. More complex transactions, like activation, cost a bit more than a simple transfer. Your wallet always shows the estimated fee before you confirm, so you can check it.
Why the wallet total looks higher than $20 when activating
When you activate, your wallet shows:
- the BNB amount for $20, plus a tiny buffer for price movement (the contract returns anything above $20 automatically), and
- the network fee.
So the total in the wallet is slightly above $20, but only $20 is kept by the contract and the fee goes to the network.
Tips to keep gas fees low
- Don't raise the gas settings in your wallet unless you know why; the default is fine on BNB Smart Chain.
- Buy several tickets in one transaction instead of one at a time.
- Keep a little BNB in your wallet (about $1) so transactions don't fail for lack of gas.
Frequently asked questions
Does BNB Machine receive the gas fee?
No. Gas fees go to the BNB Smart Chain network. BNB Machine's only fees are the $3 activation fee and the 10% withdrawal fee.
Why did my transaction fail but still cost a fee?
A failed transaction still used the network's work, so the gas is spent. Usually it fails because of the wrong network or not enough BNB.
Is signing in with my wallet free?
Yes. Signing a message is free and moves no funds.
Ready to join?
Create your account with your wallet in about 10 minutes. Activation is $20 in BNB, priced live by Chainlink.