BNB Chain has activated the Maxwell HardFork on its testnet at block height 5,255,2978. This upgrade introduces shorter block times, improved scalability, and more efficient network operations. The upgrade is expected to support ongoing ecosystem expansion and attract developer testing across the network.
According to an X post, the Maxwell upgrade brings faster block production and aims to boost the efficiency of the BNB Chain network. The network now produces a new block every 0.75 seconds. In addition, it supports 16 consecutive block productions, helping to streamline transaction processing.
These updates are focused on increasing throughput and reducing network congestion. With improved scalability, BNB Chain is positioning itself for broader adoption across different sectors, including DeFi, GameFi, and enterprise blockchain services. Developers and validators have been encouraged to begin testing the new features and tools introduced with the hard fork.
Binance Chain stated in an official post, “The Maxwell upgrade is now live on BNB Chain testnet,” and invited ecosystem participants to engage in early testing. Former Binance CEO CZ commented on X, saying, “Lower fees, Faster, coming soon”.
BNB Chain has shown strong transaction growth over the past week. On-chain data from analytics firm Nansen reported a 49% increase in transaction activity, the highest among major blockchains. This puts BNB Chain ahead of Aptos, NEAR Protocol, Stellar, and Sonic Labs in terms of transaction growth percentage.
The increased usage is also reflected in decentralized exchange activity. BNB Chain DEX protocols handled over $100 billion in transactions during the last 30 days. By comparison, Ethereum recorded $67 billion, while Solana posted $97 billion during the same period. Concurrently, asset management firm VanEck has launched its tokenized U.S. Treasury fund, VBILL, on the Binance Chain.
Moreover, Binance Chain continues to attract new stablecoins and assets. The USD1 stablecoin from World Liberty Finance has expanded its integrations across exchanges and wallets, which has added to liquidity and utility on the chain.
According to crypto analyst Cryptorand, BNB’s price has been trading higher and was valued at $660 on Sunday. This marks a 13% increase from the lowest point this month. However, the price still remains just below the monthly high of $692. Analysts have noted that BNB price recently broke above a long-term descending trendline, which had acted as resistance since December 2024.
The BNB price key support level remains in the $600–$620 range. This zone previously served as a consolidation point and has now provided a foundation for upward movement. On the resistance side, the $690–$730 area is seen as a strong barrier which was also the peak in December 2024.
Short-term support is being monitored at $660. A successful hold at this level could enable BNB to retest the $720 zone. However, a drop below $660 may prompt a pullback toward $620. If BNB price falls below $600, analysts warn it may reach support near $515–$530, which held during the March 2025 correction.
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