BNB Chain’s upcoming upgrade is set to enhance EVM compatibility and developer flexibility, with the mainnet launch scheduled for March 20.
The Pascal hardfork on BNB Chain aims to bring significant improvements to the blockchain network, with the deployment on the mainnet slated for this March. The upgrade is expected to go live in approximately two weeks, specifically on March 20.
Significance of BNB Chain’s Pascal hardfork
The mainnet activation of the latest BNB Chain upgrade follows the successful testnet release of the hardfork in February 2025. Originally targeted for a mid-March mainnet launch, the team has confirmed the date of March 20, 2025.
The Pascal upgrade introduces Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility through EIP-7702, enabling externally owned accounts to execute smart contract code. This feature allows wallets to function as smart contracts, facilitating gasless transactions, batch approvals, and swaps.
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With EVM compatibility, BNB Chain aligns itself with Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade, aiming to enhance user experience and streamline web3 onboarding by sponsoring gas fees for decentralized applications.
Leading up to the Pascal hardfork, node operators, validators, exchanges, infrastructure providers, and developers are advised to update their systems to ensure compatibility post-mainnet upgrade and avoid synchronization issues.
Following the Pascal update, BNB Chain will focus on improving network speed with two key milestones – the Lorentz hardfork in April 2025 and the Maxwell hardfork in June 2025. Lorentz is expected to reduce block time to 1.5 seconds, while Maxwell aims for sub-second transaction finality at 0.75 seconds.
These upgrades are crucial as BNB Chain targets growth in decentralized finance and artificial intelligence sectors, as evidenced by the recent unveiling of an AI roadmap.
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