BNB Chain Launches zBNB to Enable Private BNB Transfers

BNB Chain has introduced a new privacy feature for its ecosystem. On February 23, the network confirmed that zERC20 has officially launched zBN. It is a privacy-preserving version of BNB. The tool allows users to hide sender details, receiver information, balances and transaction history while still using BNB normally.

zBNB by @zERC20io is now live, enabling privacy-preserving transfers for the BNB Chain ecosystem!

With zBNB, users can keep transaction histories and account balances private when sending, holding and using assets on BNB Chain.

Note: This post is for informational purposes only… https://t.co/q3Is0BL2Oo

— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) February 23, 2026

The update was shared through official posts from both teams and quickly drew positive attention from the community. Nina Rong, Executive Director of Growth at BNB Chain, said privacy is central to onboarding the next billion users. He calls zBNB a seamless addition to the existing experience.

What zBNB Is and How It Works

zBNB is essentially a wrapped version of BNB designed for private transfers. It runs on the zERC20 privacy protocol. That is focuses on shielding transaction data while keeping assets usable. The process begins when a user wraps regular BNB. The original tokens are sent to a burn-style address and a cryptographic proof is generated. In return, the system mints zBNB that can move privately onchain.

Because the system uses zero-knowledge principles. The transactions remain verifiable without exposing sensitive details. Users can send, receive and hold funds without revealing balances publicly. Importantly, the experience stays simple. The tool works with standard wallets and keeps BNB Chain’s usual low fees and fast speeds. The design also supports zERC20’s broader goal of enabling privacy across multiple chains.

Why This Matters for BNB Chain

Privacy has long been one of blockchain’s biggest trade-offs. Public ledgers provide transparency. But they also expose user activity. With zBNB, BNB Chain is trying to close that gap. The launch marks the network’s first major native privacy integration. The timing also fits wider industry trends. Many builders now see privacy as necessary for mainstream adoption. Businesses often avoid public chains because transaction data is fully visible. 

Meanwhile, everyday users increasingly want financial discretion. By adding optional privacy, BNB Chain may make its network more attractive for payments, DeFi activity and enterprise use cases. The ecosystem already supports hundreds of millions of wallet addresses. Even modest adoption of private transfers could meaningfully expand usage patterns across the network.

Early Community Reaction

Initial feedback has been largely positive. Social posts announcing the launch quickly gathered dozens of comments and strong engagement. Many users described privacy as a missing piece for scaling Web3. Others shared early guides showing how to wrap and use zBNB through the zERC20 interface. So far, there have been no widely reported technical issues in the first hours after launch. The teams are encouraging users to test the feature. Also, provide feedback as adoption grows.

Looking Ahead

The zBNB rollout signals a broader shift toward privacy tooling across EVM networks. zERC20 already supports several chains and BNB Chain is now part of that expansion. If the user experience remains smooth and regulators stay comfortable. Then, private transfers could become a larger theme in 2026. For now, the feature is live but still early. As always, this information is for educational purposes only. Users should do their own research to understand the risks before using new protocols.