BNB Chain Fermi Upgrade Cuts Block Time and Targets One Second Finality

TLDR

Table of Contents

BNB Chain block times cut from 0.75s to 0.45s with Fermi hard fork.
Transaction finality now targets around one second for faster performance.
Validators will follow stricter rules to maintain sync under load.
Upgrade supports real-time DApps like DeFi, trading, and gaming.

BNB Chain has activated its Fermi hard fork, reducing BNB Smart Chain (BSC) block times from 0.75 seconds to 0.45 seconds. This upgrade aims to reach transaction finality in about one second. The update focuses on improving network speed and reliability for time-sensitive decentralized applications.

Upgrade Targets Faster Performance with Reliability

The Fermi hard fork went live on BNB Smart Chain (BSC) on Wednesday, reducing block production time from 0.75 seconds to 0.45 seconds. The change also aims to bring transaction finality close to one second. This marks the final phase of BNB Chain’s “short block interval” roadmap.

According to Nina Rong, executive director of growth at BNB Chain, the upgrade seeks to increase speed while keeping reliability intact. She said, “The goal is faster without compromising reliability,” as quoted in an interview with Cointelegraph. The faster block production is supported by improved finality rules to ensure consistent confirmation times, even when the network is busy.

The upgrade adjusts validator behavior with refined consensus rules. These include stricter propagation and voting parameters that help validators stay synchronized during periods of high activity.

Designed for Time-Sensitive Use Cases

The Fermi upgrade is intended to serve decentralized applications where low latency is essential. These include onchain trading, real-time decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, and interactive gaming applications.

Rong emphasized that the upgrade improves “real-world performance, not just peak throughput.” She noted that the aim is to maintain stable transaction finality during sudden traffic spikes. This is especially important for users who require dependable and fast confirmation, such as traders and gamers.

Most decentralized apps will not need code updates. However, teams that rely on precise block timing may need to review their systems due to the faster block intervals.

Upgrade Informed by Past Congestion Challenges

BNB Chain has previously experienced congestion and reduced user performance during periods of high trading volume and speculation. These past issues informed the development of the Fermi upgrade.

The new version strengthens validator coordination rules to reduce delays in finality. Validators are expected to remain better synchronized, even under heavier transaction loads. This helps ensure a responsive network that avoids past slowdowns.

BNB Chain also plans to monitor the post-upgrade environment and will release follow-up improvements. These measures include tools for validators to detect and solve synchronization issues quickly.

Performance Gains in EVM-Compatible Environment

By reducing block times to 0.45 seconds and pushing for one-second finality, BNB Chain now stands among the fastest major Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible networks. In 2025, BNB Chain ranked second only to Solana in transaction volume, recording nearly 3.89 billion transactions.

The Fermi upgrade helps BNB Chain compete with non-EVM chains like Solana, while still offering developers access to familiar EVM tools. Ethereum’s base layer, by contrast, produces blocks roughly every 12 seconds and focuses more on decentralization than speed.

The Fermi upgrade also supports BNB Chain’s 2026 roadmap, which focuses on predictable latency, high-throughput infrastructure, and base layer scaling to support more advanced applications and growing demand.