BNB Chain Pascal Hardfork: EIP-7702 Implementation and Updates

BNB Chain Announces Pascal Hardfork Date

BNB Chain has successfully tested the Pascal hardfork on its testnet. The upgrade will go live on the mainnet on March 20 at 02:10 AM UTC. The update marks a big step forward for the network, making BNB Chain one of the first blockchain networks to adopt the EIP-7702 standard.

The Pascal hardfork introduces important changes that will help developers create better user experiences. 
All node operators, validators, exchanges, and infrastructure providers must update their software before the hardfork date to stay in sync with the network.

EIP-7702: Features and Technical Impact

EIP-7702 is a technical standard that allows wallets to function more like smart contracts. This means users can do more with their wallets without needing to understand complex blockchain operations, while also providing significant technical improvements to the BNB Chain network.

The upgrade enables several important features and technical enhancements:

Gas Abstraction

With the Pascal upgrade, users can make transactions without directly paying for gas fees. This means new users can start using blockchain applications without first buying cryptocurrency to pay for transactions. Instead, the gas fees can be paid in different ways, such as:

• Payment from another wallet
• Payment using tokens other than BNB
• Payment handled by an application on behalf of the user

Smart Contract Wallets with Enhanced Security and Simplified Access

The new standard allows wallets to act as smart contracts. This gives users more control and flexibility over their accounts. Smart contract wallets can implement advanced security features like:

• Multi-signature requirements for transactions
• Time-locked transactions
• Spending limits
• Account recovery options if keys are lost
• Protection against common threats like phishing attacks

These features protect users from typical blockchain security risks and private key theft.

Importantly, this functionality also enables social login capabilities, allowing users to access blockchain applications using familiar authentication methods like Google, Facebook, or Apple accounts. This eliminates the need to manage complicated seed phrases or private keys, dramatically simplifying the onboarding process for new users and making blockchain technology more accessible to the general public.

Batch Transactions and Reduced Fees

Users can now perform multiple actions in a single transaction. For example, they can approve a token and make a swap in one click instead of requiring separate approvals for each step. This makes the user experience smoother and reduces the time needed to complete complex operations.

By allowing batched transactions, the upgrade also reduces the total gas fees users pay. Instead of paying separate gas fees for each transaction in a sequence, users pay only once for the combined operation. This results in significant cost savings, especially during periods of network congestion.

The batching capability also reduces the chances of partial transaction failures. This is particularly important for complex operations like decentralized exchange trades, where multiple approval steps must succeed for the overall transaction to complete correctly.

Improved EVM Compatibility and Developer Flexibility

The Pascal upgrade makes BNB Chain more compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This means developers can more easily port applications between Ethereum and BNB Chain without extensive code changes.

With this improved compatibility, developers gain access to more tools for creating user-friendly applications. They can now build applications that handle blockchain complexity in the background, making it easier for regular people to use blockchain technology without understanding all the technical details. This flexibility allows developers to focus on creating intuitive user experiences rather than working around blockchain limitations.

Required Updates Before March 20

All parties running BNB Chain nodes must update their software before the hardfork occurs. The update involves installing the latest software version to ensure compatibility with the new chain features.

The required updates are:

For BSC node operators and validators:

• Update to version 1.5.7
• Download link: GitHub Release v1.5.7

For opBNB operators:

• Update to version 0.5.2 or 0.5.6

For exchanges and infrastructure providers:

• Test systems with the new version
• Ensure all operations remain compatible
• Complete updates before March 20

For developers:

• Test applications with the new transaction types
• Update code to handle new features if needed

Failing to update before the hardfork will result in nodes going out of sync with the network. This means they will no longer process transactions correctly and may display incorrect information.

BNB Chain Development Roadmap

The Pascal hardfork is part of a larger development plan for BNB Chain. After this upgrade, the network has scheduled two more significant updates:

Lorentz Hardfork (April 2025)

The Lorentz upgrade will reduce block times to 1.5 seconds. This means transactions will confirm faster, and the network will process more transactions per second. Faster block times improve the user experience by reducing waiting times for transaction confirmations.

Maxwell Hardfork (June 2025)

Following the Lorentz upgrade, the Maxwell hardfork will further reduce block times to 0.75 seconds. This continues the trend of improving network performance and transaction throughput.

Conclusion

The Pascal hardfork represents a significant technical advancement for BNB Chain. By implementing EIP-7702, the network is taking concrete steps to improve user experience, enhance security, and expand the capabilities of blockchain wallets.

The upgrade will go live on March 20, 2025, at 02:10 AM UTC. All node operators, validators, exchanges, and developers must update their software before this date to maintain compatibility with the network.

With the Pascal hardfork and upcoming Lorentz and Maxwell upgrades, BNB Chain continues to focus on technical improvements that support faster, more flexible, and more user-friendly blockchain applications.