BNB Chain to Implement Pascal Hard Fork on March 20, Becoming One of the First Chains to Support EIP-7702
Key Takeaways:BNB Chain’s Pascal hard fork will go live on March 20, 2025, enhancing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility.The upgrade will implement EIP-7702, allowing externally owned accounts (EOAs) to temporarily function as smart contracts during transactions.Gas abstraction and batch transactions will improve user experience, enabling dApps to sponsor gas fees and allowing transactions without holding native tokens.Node operators and validators must update to v1.5.7 (BSC) or v0.5.2/v0.5.6 (opBNB) before March 20 to remain compatible.Future upgrades include the Lorentz hard fork in April and the Maxwell hard fork in June, aiming to increase block generation speed to 0.75 seconds.BNB Chain’s Pascal Hard Fork: A Step Toward Greater EVM CompatibilityOn March 20, 2025, BNB Chain will undergo the Pascal hard fork, making it one of the first public blockchains to support EIP-7702. This upgrade aligns BNB Chain with Ethereum’s latest advancements while enhancing flexibility, security, and efficiency for developers and users. Through EIP-7702, externally owned accounts (EOAs)—which typically require native tokens for gas—can temporarily function as smart contracts during transactions. This reduces barriers for new Web3 users and enhances the overall dApp experience.Key Benefits of the Pascal Hard Fork:Gas Abstraction: Users can interact with dApps without needing native tokens for gas fees.dApp-Sponsored Transactions: Developers can sponsor gas fees, lowering the barrier for user adoption.Batch Transactions: Users can combine multiple transactions into one, improving efficiency.Enhanced EVM Compatibility: Developers can integrate more Ethereum-based applications seamlessly.What Node Operators, Exchanges, and Developers Need to DoBNB Chain has already completed testing on its testnet in preparation for the Pascal upgrade. To ensure a smooth transition, key stakeholders must take the following actions:- Node Operators & Validators:Update to v1.5.7 (BSC) or v0.5.2/v0.5.6 (opBNB) before March 20 to remain compatible.- Exchanges & Infrastructure Providers:Ensure compatibility with the Pascal hard fork to avoid disruptions in token transfers and trading services.- Developers:Test and update dApps to support new transaction types and gas abstraction mechanisms.BNB Chain’s 2025 Roadmap: More Upgrades AheadFollowing Pascal, BNB Chain has two additional major upgrades planned for 2025:- April 2025 – Lorentz Hard ForkFurther optimizations for Ethereum compatibility and performance improvements.- June 2025 – Maxwell Hard ForkIncreases block generation speed to 0.75 seconds, significantly enhancing scalability.Proposal currently open for community comments.
