Binance Chain (BNB Chain) is a blockchain platform developed by Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It was launched in April 2019 and is designed to facilitate the creation and transfer of digital assets.

BNB Chain operates using a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus mechanism called Tendermint, which ensures the security and efficiency of the network. The blockchain is known for its high throughput and low latency, allowing for quick confirmation times and a high number of transactions per second.

The native cryptocurrency of BNB Chain is called Binance Coin (BNB). BNB serves multiple purposes within the Binance ecosystem. It can be used as a medium of exchange for trading cryptocurrencies on the Binance exchange, as well as for paying transaction fees and participating in token sales on Binance Launchpad.

Additionally, BNB is used for staking and participating in the Binance Chain's Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, where token holders can delegate their coins to validators and earn rewards for securing the network.

Binance Chain also supports the creation of new tokens on its platform, allowing projects to issue their own digital assets with various functionalities and use cases. These tokens can be traded on Binance DEX (Decentralized Exchange), which operates on BNB Chain and provides a decentralized trading experience.

It's important to note that BNB Chain is separate from the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), which is another blockchain developed by Binance. While BNB Chain focuses on high-performance and decentralized trading, BSC is designed for smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps), providing compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

Overall, BNB Chain offers a fast and secure blockchain platform for issuing, transferring, and trading digital assets, while Binance Coin (BNB) plays a central role in powering the ecosystem and providing various utility functions.