The BNB Chain is all set for an upgrade aimed at bolstering its security infrastructure and ensuring compatibility with other EVM blockchain networks. Two hard forks are planned through to August 2023 with intentions to eliminate any possible malicious blockchain reorganization.
The first of these upgrades, known as the Plato upgrade, introduces BEP-126, a proposal geared towards the implementation of a rapid finality mechanism. This method is expected to render block reverts infeasible. Arno Bauer, a Senior Solution Architect at BNB Chain, believes this mechanism will reduce the risk of chain reorganization, provide instant access to accurate information from the latest finalized block, and stabilize block production. He highlights the importance of this finality as a primary component in maintaining trust within the system and preventing double-spending.
BEP-126 achieves quick finality by proposing a block to the network, which gets circulated amongst validators. The validators sign for the block using their private keys, generating a vote message. These votes are then collected, and if the direct parent block has enough votes, they are aggregated. Validators need to adhere to specific rules while voting, such as not publishing two distinct votes for the same height. A justified block directly links to an attestation in the child block’s header and can only be finalized if it and the direct child are justified. The longest chain includes the fork with the highest justified block, irrespective of the sum difficulty of other forks. Validators who breach voting regulations face penalties, drawing similarities to Ethereum’s proof of stake protocol.
Scheduled for August 30 is the second upgrade, the Hertz hard fork. This upgrade aims to keep the BNB Chain updated with the latest development of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) blockchains. The BSC needs its base EVM and block and transaction structures to match the recent forks by Ethereum in Berlin and London. Bauer comments that these EIPs must be enabled on the BSC for compatibility reasons to ensure smooth development and ecosystem growth.
The fast finality mechanism is expected to supply a more secure environment for decentralized applications (DApps), and quicker transaction finality should enhance the responsiveness and efficiency of apps hosted on the BSC. Critics question the overall impact and radical changes these forks will bring to the BNB Chain, but the expectations are promising for proponents of blockchain technology.
Source: Cointelegraph
