BNB Chain developers officially released the highly anticipated Fermi Hardfork today, November 3.
The crucial update aims to make the network more responsive and faster.
Notably, it reduces block times from 750 milliseconds to 450 milliseconds, which translates into a 40% improvement in transaction speed.
With version 1.6.2 live, the network will process and confirm transactions much faster.
This promises users a more efficient and streamlined experience when interacting with exchanges, wallets and decentralized applications (dApps) within the BNB Smart Chain ecosystem.
Fermi Hardfork comes less than a month after the chain adopted an ultra-low gas rate model.
According to today’s official X post:
This upgrade reduces the block interval from 750 ms to 450 ms, significantly improving transaction efficiency, network throughput and overall performance. The shorter block time ensures faster processing and a smoother user experience.
The Fermi Hardfork release is now available for the BSC network. This upgrade reduces the block interval from 750 ms to 450 ms, significantly improving transaction efficiency, network throughput and overall performance. The shorter block time allows faster processing and a
5:30 PM · Nov 3, 2025
The Fermi upgrade is part of BNB Chain’s efforts to refine its infrastructure for smooth real-time transaction processing.
Important dates for the upgrade
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The announcement revealed that the activation of the Fermi Hardfork testnet will take place on November 10, with the mainnet rollout to be determined.
Nevertheless, the entire upgrade will be stress tested to measure network performance during intense activity.
This approach ensures reliability and stability after deploying Fermi on the BSC mainnet. In the meantime, the team has invited enthusiasts to participate in testing and validation.
What else is in v1.6.2?
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In addition to the primary Fermi functionalities, the latest BNB Chain rollout introduces several essential improvements that strengthen the BNB Smart Chain network.
First and foremost, the v1.6.2 release includes optimization for MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) and miners to improve performance and ensure transparent transactions.
The update also improves the overall performance of the chain by refining block propagation, reducing latency, and improving throughput.
Such adjustments contribute to an efficient and more balanced blockchain.
This is essential to maintain the increasing transaction volumes as cryptocurrencies gain mainstream acceptance, without compromising the user experience.
Why is a Fermi upgrade important?
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By reducing block times from 750 ms to 450 ms, the Fermi Hardfork BNB Chain makes one of the most efficient and fastest networks in the blockchain world.
Its speed, scalability, and stability allow developers to build innovative solutions while providing users with near-instant transaction settlements.
The BNB community will be watching as the Fermi Hardfork continues testing.
The promised changes are intended to transform how quickly users trade assets, deploy smart contracts or interact with decentralized applications on the BNB Smart Chain.
The mainnet will take place after the stress test and feedback evaluation, marking a new phase for the evolution of BNB Chain.
In other related updates, the native BNB is trading at $1,020 after losing more than 5% of its value in the past 24 hours as bears triggered another broader market dip.

