Key Highlights:
- BSCScan APIs have been deprecated, developers were forced to shift to Etherscan which provided paid access.
- BSCTrace was introduced as an alternative to BSCScan.
- Developers regain stability and lower costs.
BNB Chain developers are facing a big change standing right in front of them. According to the announcement made by the official X page of BNB Chain, today, December 18, 2025, the old BSCScan APIs, from which many projects used to get on-chain data such as wallet balances and transaction histories, are being shut down. All BSCScan data is now part of Etherscan’s system.
This means that the developers can no longer use the old free BSCScan endpoints. In addition to this, they will have to switch to Etherscan’s new unified API and pay for access, as free-tier options for BNB Chain are gone.
Moreover, if projects do not make this switch, features that rely on BSCScan, like showing wallet balances or transaction history, could stop working.
Why the Deprecation? Streamlining and Monetizing Drive Change
BSCScan’s shutdown is actually a part of a bigger move where blockchain tools are being simplified. Etherscan, which now manages BSCScan, wants all chains, like Ethereum and BNB Chain, to use the same APIs.
This will make things simpler but ends BNB Chain’s free access. From now on, users will have to pay and only then users will be able to fetch BNB Chain data.
Many users from the crypto community call this change a way to make money. Even though Etherscan has promised better features, developers have already started noticing some missing functions such as getting detailed transaction histories, which used to be very easy with the BSCScan.
BSCTrace Emerges as Lifeline: Free Tier and Enhanced Features
In order to provide BNB Chain developers a simpler, cheaper and fully functional alternative, BSCTrace was introduced. BSCTrace is a new BNB Chain explorer by MegaNode, which is now being recommended as an alternative to Etherscan V2.
Unlike Etherscan’s paid, query-string REST APIs, BSCTrace uses standard JSON-RPC 2.0 requests over HTTP POST, which are simpler and more familiar to developers.
Making this switch to BSCTrace is easy. Instead of using BSCScan’s complicated old modules, developers can actually use standard commands like eth_getBalance to check balances. New features like nr_getAssetTransfers let you see full transaction histories for all types of tokens (ERC20, ERC721, ERC1155).
There’s a free tier as well for small projects and one paid tier for larger use, much simpler than Etherscan’s four-tier system.
Other benefits include:
- Works with standard JSON-RPC commands, so it’s compatible with most tools.
- High-speed BNB Chain infrastructure is supported.
- Easy API key setup through MegaNode’s dashboard.
- Documentation shows how old BSCScan features map to BSCTrace, making migration smooth.
How It Helps Users: Cost Savings and Reliability
For developers, apps and data analysts, BSCTrace cuts costs and avoids service disruptions, which is very important during slow market conditions. It brings back free access that Etherscan removed, so projects do not have to pay just to keep basic features up and running.
BSCTrace also gives better error messages and more detailed data, making analysis more reliable. As a result, wallets, DeFi dashboards, and NFT platforms can work smoothly again, without paying Etherscan’s high fees.
Future Outlook: Optimized BNB Ecosystem Ahead
BSCTrace sets BNB chain up for growth in DeFi and gaming by simply offering a platform that is reliable, low-cost APIs. While some teams may mix tools as Etherscan V2 evolves, MegaNode’s BNB-first approach gives it a strong edge.
With easy migration and most old APIs already mapped, developers can switch quickly and keep their systems future ready.
Also Read: BNB Chain To Launch Probable With PancakeSwap and YZi Labs
