BNB Chain’s upgrade brings enhanced EVM compatibility and increased developer flexibility, set to go live on the mainnet on March 20.
The Pascal hardfork of BNB Chain, a significant upgrade offering multiple improvements to the blockchain network, is scheduled to launch on the mainnet this March. As per the latest announcement, this upgrade is expected to be live in approximately two weeks, specifically on March 20.
Importance of BNB Chain’s Pascal hardfork
The mainnet activation of the latest BNB Chain upgrade follows the testnet release of the hardfork in February 2025. Initially targeting a mid-March launch, the team has now confirmed the mainnet deployment on March 20, 2025.
Pascal introduces Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility through the EIP-7702 improvement proposal, enabling externally owned accounts to execute smart contract code. This innovation allows wallets to function as smart contracts, facilitating gasless transactions, batch approvals, and swaps.
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The EVM compatibility introduced by Pascal aligns with Ethereum’s objectives in the upcoming Pectra upgrade. With this enhancement, Binance’s blockchain network aims to enhance user experience and simplify web3 onboarding by enabling decentralized applications to sponsor gas fees.
Prior to the Pascal hardfork, node operators, validators, exchanges, infrastructure providers, and developers are required to update their systems to ensure compatibility. Failure to update could result in participants being out of sync after the mainnet upgrade.
Following the Pascal update, BNB Chain’s roadmap includes two significant milestones in network speed enhancement. The Lorentz hardfork, expected in April 2025, aims to achieve faster block times of 1.5 seconds, while the Maxwell hardfork in June 2025 targets sub-second transaction finality at 0.75 seconds.
These upgrades play a crucial role in BNB Chain’s expansion into decentralized finance and artificial intelligence realms, as indicated by a recently unveiled AI roadmap.
Notably, the convergence of DeFi and AI has given rise to the rapidly growing DeFAI ecosystem, unlocking opportunities in AI-driven yield optimization, cross-chain intelligence, and liquidity management.
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