BNB Chain introduced the Pascal Hardfork on March 20 to enhance transaction efficiency and improve compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This update incorporates Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 7702, facilitating advanced features like gas abstraction, smart contract wallets, and batch transactions.

The Pascal Hardfork represents a significant milestone in the network’s evolution, making it an early adopter of this vital EVM upgrade. A standout aspect of EIP-7702 is the introduction of smart contract wallets that temporarily operate as smart contracts, enabling gas-free transactions, batch approvals, and seamless asset swaps. This update is anticipated to enhance user onboarding and provide dApp developers with greater flexibility.

Ahead of the upgrade, the Binance-supported blockchain has advised node operators, validators, exchanges, and infrastructure providers to update their systems. Failure to do so may result in nodes falling out of sync post-hard fork. Simultaneously, crypto exchanges and infrastructure providers are expected to confirm compatibility, while developers must ensure their dApps align with the new transaction structure.

BNB Chain has further enhancements planned beyond Pascal. The Lorentz Hardfork, expected in April 2025, aims to reduce block times to 1.5 seconds, boosting network speed. In June 2025, the Maxwell Hardfork will further reduce block processing times to 0.75 seconds, accelerating transactions even more.

The upgrade coincides with a surge in decentralized exchange (DEX) activity on the BNB Chain. According to DeFiLlama, BNB Chain logged $2.13 billion in DEX transactions over the past 24 hours, surpassing Ethereum’s $1.75 billion and Solana’s $1.48 billion. Weekly trading volume on BNB Chain has risen nearly 60%, reaching $13.56 billion, contrasting with a 40% decline on competitor networks during the same timeframe. This momentum is largely driven by the growing popularity of memecoins like Mubarak, which have boosted trading activity on PancakeSwap, the network’s main DEX, with $2.56 billion in transactions over the past day, nearly double Uniswap’s total volume during the same period.

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