BNB Chain is making a major move to speed up its blockchain with the launch of the Maxwell upgrade, officially activated on June 30, 2025. This update cuts block times in half—from 1,5 seconds to just 0,75 seconds—marking a significant leap for the network’s performance and user experience .
What’s Changing?
• Faster Blocks: The Maxwell upgrade, powered by proposals BEP-524, BEP-563, and BEP-564, reduces the time it takes to produce a new block to 0,75 seconds. This means transactions are confirmed more quickly, making the network more responsive for users and developers alike.
• Improved Validator Sync: With shorter block intervals, validators need to communicate and synchronize faster. BEP-563 optimizes how validators share messages, reducing the risk of missed votes and keeping the network running smoothly even as the pace increases.
• Better Node Communication: BEP-564 introduces smarter block-fetching logic, helping nodes stay in sync and preventing slowdowns that could affect the entire network.
Why Does It Matter?
For everyday users, these changes mean faster transaction confirmations and a smoother experience when using decentralized apps (dApps), DeFi platforms, or GameFi projects on BNB Chain. Developers will need to adapt their applications to handle the new, rapid-fire block production, but the payoff is a more competitive and reliable blockchain ecosystem .
A Step Up from Lorentz
The Maxwell upgrade builds on the momentum of the Lorentz hard fork earlier this year, which already cut block times from 3 seconds to 1,5 seconds. Now, with sub-second blocks, BNB Chain is positioning itself alongside the fastest blockchains in the industry, aiming to attract more users and developers looking for speed and efficiency .
What’s Next?
Before the full rollout, the upgrade was tested extensively to ensure stability at the new speed. Node operators and validators are encouraged to check their infrastructure for compatibility, while dApp developers should review their code to avoid issues with time-based logic or syncing.
