BNB Chain has unveiled detailed specifications for a new high-performance Layer 1 blockchain designed to process transactions in 200 milliseconds, expanding its infrastructure for high-frequency trading, real-time payments and autonomous AI applications.
The new network, detailed in documentation updated October 22, will operate alongside BNB Smart Chain (BSC) rather than replace it. Both networks will use BNB for transaction fees, staking and governance, with a native cross-chain bridge connecting their ecosystems.
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) welcomed the architecture on X, describing its single-token approach with the phrase “Multiple chains, one coins.”
The project already operates an internal multi-validator development network, with a public testnet planned for late 2026 and mainnet deployment targeted for early 2027.
New Layer 1 Targets 20ms Pre-Confirmations and Sub-Second Finality
The upcoming blockchain is being developed as a latency-focused alternative to general-purpose EVM networks, combining faster block production with redesigned transaction processing.
Its architecture targets 200-millisecond blocks, approximately 20-millisecond transaction pre-confirmations and finality in less than one second through an enhanced Parlia Proof-of-Staked-Authority consensus mechanism.
The pre-confirmation system allows validators to signal a transaction’s expected inclusion and ordering before a block is finalized. These early signals can still be revoked and do not guarantee successful execution.
The network will also eliminate the traditional public mempool, routing transactions directly to block producers to reduce opportunities for front-running and transaction manipulation.
BNB Chain previously outlined the project in its July Layer 1 roadmap, initially targeting pre-confirmations below 50 milliseconds and throughput exceeding 100,000 transactions per second.
The latest specifications refine the latency target while providing more detail about execution, validator coordination and network functionality.
BNB Will Power Both Chains Without a New Token
The new blockchain will retain BNB as its native asset, extending the token’s existing utility rather than introducing another cryptocurrency.
Users will transfer BNB from BSC through a native bridge currently under development. Validators will stake BNB to secure the network, while governance participation will use non-transferable govBNB voting balances linked to staking.
The architecture introduces several additional capabilities, including native account abstraction, programmable transaction batching, gas sponsorship and passkey-based authorization.
A Multi-Lane execution system will reserve transaction capacity for designated applications, helping time-sensitive operations such as liquidations, trading and oracle updates avoid competition with ordinary network traffic.
BNB Chain is also developing a native privacy pool using zero-knowledge proofs to conceal transaction participants and amounts. The initial implementation supports native BNB, although its cryptographic circuits remain unaudited and are not ready for production use.
Existing Solidity contracts will remain compatible with the new execution environment, potentially allowing developers to expand applications without rebuilding their core smart contracts.
The expansion follows earlier performance upgrades across the ecosystem. In January, BNB Chain’s opBNB Fourier upgrade reduced Layer 2 block intervals from 500 to 250 milliseconds.
BNB Chain Expands Infrastructure for Trading and AI Agents
The new Layer 1 is intended to support applications requiring faster transaction responses than conventional blockchain infrastructure can consistently deliver.
Potential workloads include decentralized perpetual exchanges, automated trading systems, AI agents executing transactions, real-time payments and confidential financial applications.
BNB Chain already supports expanding financial activity, including a tokenized equity market that surpassed $5 billion in cumulative trading volume earlier this year.
The parallel-chain model would allow existing applications to remain on BSC while latency-sensitive services migrate to the specialized network, with both environments continuing to use BNB.
However, the new architecture still faces public-network testing, security reviews and interoperability development before commercial deployment.
BNB Chain has not finalized the network’s name, chain ID or public RPC endpoints. Its native bridge also remains under development, and no public testnet or faucet is currently available.
The next scheduled milestone is the public testnet before the end of 2026, followed by the targeted mainnet launch in early 2027.
