A crypto enthusiast can relate to two familiar terms: BEP20 and ERC20 tokens. Many of the defi protocol tokens that use smart contracts on the Ethereum network are called ERC20 tokens. Some popular ones include USDT and USDC stablecoins, Shiba Inu SHIB, etc.
On the other hand, every cryptocurrency token on the BSC blockchain, such as Binance USD, Binance BNB, Venus, Pancakeswap, BURGER, C.R.E.A.M, etc., is a BEP-20 token.
Developers create these tokens on the Ethereum blockchain and Binance Smart Chain to be easily interchanged with others of the same type. The rules that facilitate these seamless interactions are BEP-20 and ERC-20 (Ethereum Request for Comment) token standards.
So, what is ERC20 token standard? Is it different from BEP-20 token standards? Keep reading to discover more. We’ll also compare bep20 vs. erc20 to know their differences.
Token Standard, What Is It?
A token standard is a technical rule that guides the creation, issuance, and deployment of every new token on a blockchain. The aim of setting these rules is to prevent fraud on the network. The standards also ensure that developers only issue tokens compatible with the blockchain's principles and other tokens on the network.
That's why developers must specify the maximum supply, the production, the burning process, and the transaction procedure for their new tokens.
Every token development on such blockchains must follow the rules to enable interoperability with the network. By following the set standard, these tokens contain common properties and follow the validation method of the underlying network. The rules also make the governance of every token on a specific blockchain easier for operators.
The most popular token standards are ERC-20 for Ethereum blockchain, BEP20 for Binance Smart Chain, TRC-20 for Tron network, SPL for Solana blockchain, etc.
Ethereum and Binance chains are ideal for every developer offering a token development service. That’s why many Defi protocol tokens are currently existing on these networks.
Explaining The BEP20 Token Standard
The answer to what is BEP20 is that it is a set of rules that govern token development process on the Binance Smart Chain. All the tokens operating on BSC follow the BEP-20 standard to be compatible with the network and other tokens.
The rules also facilitate seamless tokens use on the network. They also guide the transfer, approval, and management of the tokens on BSC. Currently, Binance issues two token standards, BEP20 and BEP2 token standards. The former is for Binance Smart Chain, a separate network, while the latter is for Binance Chain supporting the BNB coin.
The BEP2 standard support centralized and decentralized exchange transactions on the Binance blockchain. However, it doesn’t support interactions with other blockchains. It can communicate with BSC, but holders must change their BEP2 tokens into BEP20 tokens to use them on other Binance systems.
Why do developers use the BEP20 standard?
The BSC network caters to decentralized apps DApps and smart contracts. The network is compatible with Ethereum ETH, making it ideal for transferring ERC20 tokens. Also, BEP20 transaction is faster and supports the transfer of other tokens such as USDT, BTC, Litecoin, and Ether. It also requires a cheaper transaction fee to complete block validation.
Apart from these functions, the BEP20 token system is compatible with many wallets. It also boasts cross-chain compatibility with other tokens in diverse blockchains. These features have made BEP20 rules acceptable to many developers aiming to create a fungible token.
What does the BEP20 standard contain?
Some of the rules for token mint on Binance Smart Chain are similar to ERC-20 standards. But the network demands additional requirements given that it is newer than Ethereum.
So, developers must provide the following:
- Token total supply details
- Token transfer method
- Token own account balance
- Method of receiving the tokens
- Withdrawal method for the tokens
- The address of the token owner
- The name of the token
- The ticker symbol for the token
- The total decimals that will make up the token unit.
What Is The ERC-20 Token Standard
ERC20 token standard is the set of technical rules guiding the creation of fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. Fungible means the token holders can exchange them for others on the blockchain.
Developers of Ethereum-based smart contracts and decentralized apps create tokens using this standard to ensure that users can interact with their apps easily. But they must comply with the set standard to ensure that the tokens are interchangeable with others on Ethereum.
ERC20 tokens rely on smart contracts to enable holders to buy, sell and trade them on crypto exchanges. Some popular ERC20 tokens include Tether USD (USDT) DAI Stablecoin, Shiba Inu SHIB, HEX, Maker MKR, USD Coin USDC, etc.
Contents of ERC20 rules
Ethereum token rules demand that developers must provide some information regarding
- TotalSupply: Token supply details
- BalanceOf: Token owner account balance
- Transfer, TransferFrom: processes of transferring the tokens
- Approve: withdrawal process for the tokens
- Allowance: the process of receiving the token
Why is ERC20 Standard very popular?
There are many reasons developers prefer ERC20 standards for creating tokens. Some of them include the following:
- Faster transaction speed
One reason an erc20 transaction will be fast is the block verification speed on the Ethereum network. Ethereum's Beacon Chain validators are over 400,000 working to confirm the transactions. Creating slots for new validators takes place every 12 seconds, creating new blocks and sending them to other network nodes. This process is fast, ensuring that the execution time for block verification is shorter compared to Bitcoin, with 10 minutes.
- Low transaction fee
After the upgrade from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake on September 15, the gas fee has been reduced impressively, even though it's not cheaper. According to Ycharts.com, the cost of high-priority transactions with ETH was up to $2.97 before the merge. But the amount has reduced to $0.18 post-merge, depicting a 93% reduction from May 13.
- Efficient development service
Another reason developers use the ERC-20 token standard is due to the efficiency of the process. Developing these tokens doesn't take time, and the cost is competitive too. According to some discussion forums, it takes 2 to 3 days to develop an ERC20 token in the $500 to $2000 cost range.
- Network compatibility
ERC20 tokens are compatible with other networks. Currently, holders of the tokens can use them on the Tron network and Binance Smart Chain too. Both BEP-2 and BEP20 token standards inherited all ERC-20 features. That’s why the tokens on these networks are compatible.
- Possible revenue increase
Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrencie in market cap. The blockchain boasts wide reach and global acceptance due to continuous blockchain development. Developers and users of ERC20 tokens stand a chance of increasing their revenues with the assets. ERC20 crypto assets usually boast higher liquidity, since holders can easily swap them for other tokens or even fiat currencies. Moreover, these tokens are secure, user-friendly, and use dedicated wallets.
BEP20 Vs. ERC20: Which Standard Is Better?
Following the popularity, scope, and usage of Ethereum over Binance, it might be easy to conclude that the ERC20 standard is better than its BEP20 counterpart. But let’s compare them under the following headings.
Blockchain network
Ethereum is the second-largest network in market cap and offers more functionalities than others. The blockchain has become a hub for developing decentralized finance protocols, NFT tokens, stablecoins, and even meme coins.
Currently, many DeFi projects are running on Ethereum, representing above 80% of all the decentralized finance projects existing. Also, 70% of all Non-Fungible Tokens are connected to Ethereum in either development or ETH usage.
Binance Smart Chain also supports many projects' development, but it cannot compare to Ethereum's scope.
When it comes to gas fees, BEP20 wins over ERC20 and even the Tron blockchain using the delegated proof of stake DPoS. It offers lower fees due to the proof of staked authority block validation method. Users pay a few cents in transaction fees, while the ERC20 blockchain takes higher costs.
Also, verifying blocks on the Binance Smart Chain is faster. The process takes 3 seconds on BSC, while it takes up to 12 seconds on Ethereum post-merge.
On the issue of network security, the winner is Ethereum. While BSC uses 21 validators to verify blocks, Ethereum relies on 70,000+ validator to do the same. That’s why many people argue that BSC is prone to security issues. The general opinion among analysts is that BSC chose lower transaction fees over decentralization and security on the network.
Support for smart contract development
According to statistics, the total number of smart contract projects developers created on Ethereum in 2022 Q1 was 1.45 million. The figure depicts a 24.7% increase from its level in Q4 of 2021, indicating a continual growth in usage. But while Binance Smart Chain also supports smart contracts, it cannot compare to Ethereum. Instead, it depends mainly on Ethereum. Also, its PoSA consensus mechanism makes it centralized.
Consensus mechanisms
BEP20 network uses the proof of staked authority (PoSA) consensus mechanism. This method of validating blocks made the network more efficient and faster for users.
Now Ethereum is no longer using the energy-consuming PoW but the PoS validation model, making it a better network. After Ethereum migrated to proof-of-stake, its average block verification time reduced from 15 seconds to 12.
But even though speed has increased slightly, it cannot match BSC block time. The network only became more scalable.
FAQ: Commonly Asked Questions On BEP-20 Vs. ERC-20.
Find some helpful answers below if you're still doubtful about the differences between BEP20 and ERC20 token standards.
How do BEP20 and ERC20 differ?
BEP20 is the token development rule on Binance Smart Chain, while ERC20 is the standard on the Ethereum blockchain. When comparing them code-wise, they both look identical. The main difference between the two is gas fees.
Gas cost on Binance Smart Chain is much cheaper than Ethereum. Also, gas fees when performing transactions with ERC20 are paid in Ether, while BEP20 transactions use BNB for payments.
BEP20 and ERC20, which is better?
Technically, the BEP20 standard has a more detailed token specification than ERC20. BEP20 should be better since it is an extension (built on the ERC20 model) of ERC20. If you want a token with ease of development and global exposure, ERC20 is for you. However, if you want a token with a lower gas fee and faster processing time, choose BEP20.
Are BEP20 and ERC20 tokens still profitable?
ERC20 and BEP20 tokens are still profitable. For example, ERC20 tokens are used to create fungible tokens which aid payments and utilities. Crypto Crowdfunding is one great way to earn profit with ERC20 tokens for start-ups and potential investors.
