Fermi Fork of BSC: What to Expect When Blocks Shorten to 250 Milliseconds

BNB Smart Chain users can expect a significant change on January 14, 2026. The network will activate its Fermi fork, an upgrade that will dramatically shorten confirmation times and alter how time-sensitive operations function. This event marks another step in BSC’s race to optimize speed without compromising stability.

What Changes in the Fermi Fork: Block Times and Validator Coordination

The core change is drastic: BSC will reduce the block interval from 750 milliseconds to just 250 milliseconds. To put this into context, it means transactions will reach finality in less than a second, aligning with applications that demand near-instant execution: automatic liquidations in DeFi, on-chain trading systems, and strategies that depend on speed.

However, more frequent blocks pose a different challenge: validators must communicate faster. The Fermi fork addresses this by introducing expanded voting parameters across the validator set. These parameters act as latency buffers, allowing the network to maintain consensus even when blocks arrive more rapidly.

The upgrade also simplifies the internal architecture. The handshake mechanism of the BSC protocol is eliminated, reducing overhead in node connections. Simultaneously, filtermap checkpoints are improved, enabling smoother and more precise synchronizations without unnecessary processing.

Mandatory Technical Preparation for Validators and Operators

All validators must act before January 14, 2026, at 02:30 AM UTC. Compatible software versions are 1.6.4 and 1.6.5, though BSC specifically recommends 1.6.5. The latter includes performance optimizations designed to operate seamlessly under the new accelerated block times.

Nodes that do not update in time will lose their ability to produce blocks and validate transactions, effectively removing them from the network.

Version 1.6.5 introduces an optional gas fee cap per transaction, giving validators greater control over fees during periods of high demand. This mechanism prevents uncontrolled fee spikes as block frequency increases.

Light Indexing: Less Resources, More Accessibility

The Fermi fork introduces a new approach to data indexing. Instead of requiring users and services to download the entire blockchain history, they can access only the data they need. This selective indexing capability significantly reduces computational and storage requirements.

For node operators, analysis firms, and other services, this translates into lighter configurations. Fewer resources mean a lower barrier to entry for participating in the network, potentially facilitating a broader base of independent nodes.

Context: BSC’s Race for Performance

BNB Smart Chain has been pursuing incremental improvements for years. The Maxwell fork, implemented in June, already reduced the average block time to 0.8 seconds. Previously, the Lorentz upgrade focused on efficiency in test networks. Each step has laid the groundwork for the more aggressive reduction represented by Fermi.

To put the change into perspective: currently, BSC processes around 222 transactions per second under real conditions, according to BSC Scan. However, Chainspect analysis estimates the theoretical maximum at 6,349 TPS. This gap shows that confirmation speed, not just total throughput, defines the user experience.

In comparison, Visa processes approximately 1,700 transactions per second on average, with near-instant settlements. Public blockchains have yet to reach that level, but initiatives like Fermi bring them closer.

Launched in 2020, BSC operates under a validator-based model and currently has nearly 2.9 million active addresses, comparable to fast networks like Solana. The Fermi fork reinforces its position as a high-performance network without altering its fundamental architecture.

On January 14, 2026, the Fermi fork will activate these changes on BSC’s mainnet, transforming confirmation speed and redefining how time-sensitive applications operate.