BNB Smart Chain Activates Maxwell Hardfork, Slashes Block Times to 0.8 Seconds

The BNB Smart Chain (BSC) has successfully activated its Maxwell hardfork at 2:30 AM UTC today, June 30, 2025, reducing block times to 0.8 seconds, a step toward its 0.75-second target, according to the BNB Chain blog.

The upgrade improves transaction speeds and network efficiency, making BSC one of the leading platforms for decentralized applications (DApps) in DeFi, GameFi, and NFT trading.

BNB Maxwell Hardfork Drives Performance Gains

The Maxwell hardfork, effective June 30, 2025, builds on the April 2025 Lorentz upgrade, which reduced block times from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds. Currently achieving 0.8-second block times with a goal of 0.75 seconds, the upgrade introduces three core proposals:

• BEP-524: Implements 0.75-second block intervals to accelerate transaction confirmations.  
• BEP-563: Improves peer-to-peer messaging to reduce missed votes and synchronization delays.  
• BEP-564: Introduces new message types to facilitate improved node synchronization.

The upgrade doubles the epoch length from 500 to 1,000 blocks and extends validator turns from 8 to 16 blocks, allowing transaction finality in approximately 1.875 seconds. 

The update was tested on the BSC testnet starting May 26, 2025, with secure block creation and minimal reorganizations, according to the BNB Chain blog.

Impact on Users, Developers, and Validators

The Maxwell hardfork delivers high benefits across BSC’s network. Consumers experience instant transaction confirmations, improving efficiency for token swaps and NFT minting. 

Developers also benefit from reduced latency, optimizing DApp performance in DeFi and GameFi, with improved scalability for higher transaction volumes. Validators also benefit from peer-to-peer messaging optimization, supporting consensus and synchronization.

However, testnet data shows increased hardware demands, with a “moderate increase” in requirements. Developers need to test DApps for block timing at 0.75 seconds and refactor code based on 1.5-second timebases, according to the BNB Chain blog.

The Lorentz upgrade, which reduced fees to $0.04 and reorganizations by half, drove increased decentralized exchange (DEX) activity, per Dune Analytics data. 

There are speculations of  an estimated 15-20% transaction volume surge post-Lorentz, suggesting the Maxwell hardfork may deliver the same, even if exact figures remain unconfirmed.

Higher Costs and MEV Challenges Loom Despite Maxwell’s Promise

The Maxwell hardfork puts BSC in the high-performance blockchain category, but there are still challenges that need to be addressed. 

The reduced block window may disrupt maximum extractable value (MEV) strategies, and developers must adapt accordingly, says Metaverse Post. Validators face higher hardware demands, which can feasibly drive up costs, though no quantified specific effects were reported in formal channels.

Despite these challenges, the benefits of the upgrade—faster times for transactions, higher scalability, and improved DApp performance—are projected to drive adoption, says MarzellCrypto on X.

BNB’s price rose 4.69% over the past week to $653.46, 17.64% below its all-time high of $793.35, per CoinMarketCap.

BNB price chart (Source: CoinMarketCap)