Token Types: ERC-20, BEP-20, TRC-20 & SPL – What’s the Difference?

In the rapidly evolving world of blockchain and digital assets, understanding token standards is essential for developers, investors, and everyday users. These standards define how tokens function across different networks, ensuring seamless interoperability, security, and usability. Among the most widely used are ERC-20, BEP-20, TRC-20, and SPL—each native to a major blockchain platform.

This guide breaks down what these token types are, how they differ, and why they matter in today’s decentralized ecosystem.

Why Do Crypto Token Standards Exist?

Crypto token standards are sets of rules embedded in smart contracts that dictate how tokens behave on a specific blockchain. They standardize critical functions like token creation, transfer, approval, and balance tracking. Without these protocols, every project would implement its own logic, leading to incompatibility and fragmentation.

As subsets of smart contract standards, token specifications ensure that new tokens can interact smoothly with wallets, exchanges, decentralized applications (dApps), and other services. This uniformity fosters trust, simplifies development, and accelerates adoption across the crypto landscape.

The Four Major Token Standards

While hundreds of token standards exist today, four stand out due to their widespread use and influence:

• ERC-20 – Ethereum
• BEP-20 – Binance Smart Chain (now BNB Chain)
• TRC-20 – TRON
• SPL – Solana

Each corresponds to a high-performance blockchain but varies in design philosophy, performance, cost, and level of decentralization.

🔍 Quick Tip: The number suffix often indicates the type: -20 for fungible tokens (like currencies), -721 for NFTs, and -1155 for multi-token standards. On TRON, TRC-10 is another technical standard for basic tokens.

Key Differences Between ERC-20, BEP-20, TRC-20, and SPL

👉 Discover how fast blockchain transactions can be with next-gen platforms.

These differences directly impact user experience—especially when transferring stablecoins like USDT or engaging with DeFi protocols.

ERC-20: The Pioneer of Token Standards

ERC-20 (Ethereum Request for Comments 20) is the original and most influential token standard. It laid the foundation for modern tokenized ecosystems by defining a common set of rules for fungible tokens on Ethereum.

Most initial coin offerings (ICOs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects launched using ERC-20 tokens, making it the gold standard for compatibility.

Advantages of ERC-20

• Mature & Trusted: Over a decade of real-world use with battle-tested security.
• Universal Support: Accepted by nearly all wallets, exchanges, and dApps.
• Decentralized Network: Resilient against single points of failure.
• Vast Developer Resources: Extensive documentation and community support.

Disadvantages of ERC-20

• High Gas Fees: Transaction costs can spike during network congestion.
• Scalability Challenges: Limited throughput compared to newer chains.
• Immutable Contracts: Once deployed, bugs cannot be fixed without redeployment.

Despite its drawbacks, ERC-20 remains a cornerstone of the crypto economy—especially for projects prioritizing decentralization and long-term credibility.

BEP-20: Efficiency Meets Ecosystem Power

BEP-20 is the primary token standard on BNB Chain (formerly Binance Smart Chain). Designed as an extension of ERC-20, it inherits much of its functionality while offering faster speeds and lower fees.

Because BNB Chain is EVM-compatible (Ethereum Virtual Machine), developers can easily port Ethereum-based dApps to BSC with minimal changes.

Advantages of BEP-20

• Low Transaction Costs: Ideal for microtransactions and frequent trading.
• Fast Processing: Blocks confirmed every 3 seconds.
• EVM Compatibility: Enables easy migration from Ethereum.
• Backed by Binance: Strong infrastructure and exchange integration.

Disadvantages of BEP-20

• Centralization Risks: A small number of validators control the network.
• Younger Ecosystem: Fewer audits and less battle-testing than Ethereum.

BEP-20 has become popular for DeFi yield farming and low-cost stablecoin transfers—especially USDT and BUSD.

👉 See how low-cost blockchain networks are reshaping digital finance.

TRC-20: Speed and Affordability on TRON

TRC-20 is the main token standard on the TRON blockchain, designed for high-throughput applications. Like BEP-20, it offers a cheaper and faster alternative to ERC-20, particularly for transferring USDT.

TRON uses a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) model where 27 super representatives validate transactions, enabling rapid finality.

Advantages of TRC-20

• Minimal Fees: Among the lowest transaction costs in the industry.
• High Throughput: Supports thousands of transactions per second.
• Growing dApp Ecosystem: Popular in gaming, gambling, and social media dApps.

Disadvantages of TRC-20

• Limited Adoption: Not all wallets or exchanges support TRC-20 tokens.
• Centralization Concerns: Fewer nodes compared to Ethereum or Solana.

Despite criticism over centralization, TRC-20 remains a top choice for users moving large amounts of USDT with minimal fees.

SPL: Solana’s High-Speed Token Standard

SPL (Solana Program Library) is Solana’s equivalent to ERC-20. It governs how fungible and non-fungible tokens operate on one of the fastest blockchains in existence.

Solana achieves blazing-fast speeds through a combination of Proof of Stake and a unique consensus mechanism called Proof of History (PoH).

Advantages of SPL

• Ultra-Fast Transactions: Finality in under a second.
• Near-Zero Fees: Consistently low costs even during peak usage.
• High Scalability: Capable of processing over 50,000 TPS.

Disadvantages of SPL

• Newer Ecosystem: Still maturing compared to Ethereum.
• Less Universal Support: Fewer integrations outside Solana-native apps.
• Smaller Developer Base: Growing but not yet at Ethereum levels.

SPL is ideal for high-frequency applications like decentralized exchanges (DEXs), NFT marketplaces, and Web3 gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main difference between ERC-20 and BEP-20?

ERC-20 runs on Ethereum and offers strong decentralization but higher fees. BEP-20 operates on BNB Chain, offering lower costs and faster transactions due to EVM compatibility and optimized consensus.

Can I transfer ERC-20 tokens directly to a BEP-20 address?

No. ERC-20 and BEP-20 are on different blockchains. You must use a cross-chain bridge or exchange service to convert between them safely.

Why do people use TRC-20 USDT instead of ERC-20 USDT?

TRC-20 USDT transactions are significantly cheaper—often less than $1—making it ideal for large transfers where minimizing fees is crucial.

Is SPL better than ERC-20?

It depends on your needs. SPL offers superior speed and lower fees, but ERC-20 has broader adoption and stronger decentralization. For performance-focused apps, SPL excels; for maximum compatibility, ERC-20 wins.

Are BEP-20 tokens secure?

BEP-20 tokens benefit from BNB Chain’s robust infrastructure but face criticism over centralization due to limited validator diversity. Security also depends on individual project audits.

Which token standard should I use for my project?

Choose based on priorities:

• Decentralization & trust: ERC-20
• Low cost & speed: BEP-20 or TRC-20
• High performance: SPL

Final Thoughts

Understanding token standards like ERC-20, BEP-20, TRC-20, and SPL is key to navigating the modern blockchain landscape. Each offers distinct trade-offs between speed, cost, security, and ecosystem maturity.

Whether you're sending stablecoins, building dApps, or investing in new projects, knowing which standard underpins a token helps you make informed decisions about fees, compatibility, and long-term viability.

As blockchain technology evolves, these standards will continue to shape how value moves in the digital economy—driving innovation across DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and beyond.

👉 Explore how different blockchains support today’s fastest-growing digital assets.