In a move that has captured the crypto community’s attention, Binance’s BNB Chain is poised to undergo two significant hard forks this August. These upgrades, Plato and Hertz, are set to bolster the network’s security and enhance its compatibility with other Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) blockchains.
The first of these, the Plato upgrade, took place on August 10, introducing the BEP-126 evolution proposal. This proposal is designed to implement a fast finality mechanism, which is expected to eliminate the potential for blocks to be reverted. The subsequent Hertz upgrade, scheduled for August 30, is focused on aligning the BNB Chain with the latest developments in EVM blockchains.
Plato Upgrade: Introducing BEP-126 and the Fast Finality Mechanism
Arno Bauer, a senior solution architect at BNB Chain, recently provided insights into the specifics of these upgrades in an interview with Cointelegraph. He emphasised the importance of the fast finality mechanism, which is set to reduce the likelihood of chain reorganisation, stabilise block production, and offer users immediate access to accurate data from the most recent finalised block.
Bauer elaborated, “Overall, BEP-126 aims to enhance blockchain security and efficiency on the BNB Smart Chain by introducing a fast finality mechanism.” He further highlighted the significance of finality in blockchain technology. This concept pertains to the juncture at which a transaction or a block of transactions becomes immutable. Ensuring finality is paramount for upholding trust within the blockchain ecosystem and averting potential double-spending issues.
The BEP-126 achieves fast finality through a structured process
- Validators initiate the process by proposing a block to the network.
- This block is then disseminated to other validators.
- Validators subsequently sign the block using their private keys, generating a vote message.
- The next phase involves voting aggregation, where votes from validators are collected and aggregated, provided the direct parent block has garnered sufficient votes.
To ensure the integrity of the voting process, validators are bound by specific guidelines. For instance, they are prohibited from publishing multiple distinct votes for an identical height. The finality regulations stipulate that a block is deemed “justified” if the child block’s header contains an attestation. A block is considered “finalised” if the union and its immediate child are justified.
Interestingly, the fork that includes the highest justified block in this system is recognised as the longest chain. This holds even if alternative chain forks possess a more significant difficulty sum. The criteria for producing and finalising blocks differ, especially concerning the requisite number of validators.
Hertz Upgrade: Aligning with the Latest EVM Developments
The upcoming Hertz hard fork is a testament to BNB Chain’s commitment to staying abreast of the latest advancements in EVM blockchains. As Bauer elucidates, the BNB Chain must consistently update its block and transaction structures. This also includes its foundational EVM, ensuring it aligns with the modifications introduced in Ethereum’s recent Berlin and London forks.
Bauer stressed the importance of this alignment, stating, “For compatibility reasons, those EIPs must also be enabled on BSC to ensure a smooth development and ecosystem growth.” The integration of the fast finality mechanism is anticipated to foster a more secure environment for decentralised applications (DApps) on the BNB Chain. Furthermore, the expedited transaction finality is set to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of DApps operating on the platform.
Conclusion
These hard forks, Plato and Hertz, signify Binance’s strategic and forward-thinking approach to maintaining the BNB Chain’s competitive edge in the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape. By introducing innovative security measures and aligning with the latest EVM developments, the BNB Chain is poised to offer an even more robust and resilient platform for developers, users, and stakeholders.
