BNB Smart Chain completed the Maxwell upgrade on June 30, 2025, at 2:30 am UTC.
The upgrade reduced the average BNB block time from 1.5 seconds to 0.8 seconds, according to BscScan data.
BNB Chain Block and Price Stats. Source: BscScan
The change followed a testnet phase that started on May 26. The reduced timing took effect immediately after the Maxwell upgrade was applied to the BNB mainnet.
This adjustment was part of a broader effort to improve network speed and validator performance.
The Maxwell upgrade follows April’s Lorentz update, which had already cut block times from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds. Now, the goal is to reach 0.75 seconds per block.
Maxwell Upgrade Includes BEP-524, BEP-563, BEP-564
The Maxwell upgrade introduced three proposals: BEP-524, BEP-563, and BEP-564. These updates aim to improve network speed, validator coordination, and message handling on BNB Smart Chain.
BEP-524 focused on block time reduction. It built on changes from the Lorentz upgrade, cutting the average time per block to 0.8 seconds.
BEP-563 aimed to improve how validators communicate. It made block proposals faster, strengthened validator network stability, and reduced the chances of missed votes. The BNB Chain team said,
“This reduces the risk of missed votes or delayed proposals — key for hitting that 0.75s target.”
BEP-564 added two new message types to the network. The first, GetBlocksByRangeMsg, allows a node to request multiple blocks in a single call.
The second, RangeBlocksMsg, sends all requested blocks in one response. These changes help boost synchronization speed across the network.
BNB Chain Developers and Validators Must Adjust to Faster Blocks
The BNB Chain developers asked DApp builders to prepare for the shorter block intervals. Applications that rely on 1.5-second timing need review and updates.
The development team stated, “If something breaks, it’s probably your code — not the chain.”
BNB Chain validators must ensure their systems are ready for faster messaging and block finality.
They are expected to handle higher message throughput and faster consensus rounds. The infrastructure should now support a 0.75-second cycle for each block.
These updates require both developers and validators to test and benchmark their tools under the new network settings.
BNB Token Price Rises Before Maxwell Upgrade
The BNB token price climbed in the week before the Maxwell upgrade. According to CoinGecko, BNB moved between $617 and $655 over the past seven days, gaining 6.5% during that period.
On June 30, the BNB token price stood at $655.70, marking a 1.2% increase in the previous 24 hours.
The price range for the day was between $647 and $656. BNB remains 17% below its all-time high of $788, which was recorded on December 4, 2021.
The price movement occurred while validators and developers were preparing for the Maxwell upgrade rollout.
