Crypto News
BNB Smart Chain activated the Osaka/Mendel hard fork at 02:30 UTC on April 28, rolling out nine protocol enhancements — six Ethereum EIPs plus two BNB Chain-specific optimizations — and capping transaction gas at 16,777,216 units. The fork builds on the Fermi and Maxwell upgrades, which had already trimmed block times to 0.45 seconds, and advances BSC's stated throughput target of 20,000 TPS. Node operators on v1.7.2 stayed synced with mainnet; those who failed to migrate risked disconnection.
Why it matters
Osaka is a consolidation-layer upgrade rather than a headline feature drop. MEXC framed it as the phase where speed gains have to hold up under real load, not lab conditions. Testnet validation ran on March 24 and March 27, and early reports flagged a smooth mainnet transition. The structural bet is that predictable gas ceilings and faster finality let BSC absorb higher on-chain activity — DeFi, gaming, RWA settlement — without the congestion spikes that have historically capped usage on the chain.
Market impact
$BNB is trading near a $633 pivot with RSI and MACD flat and the price below its key moving averages, leaving the chart neutral and the narrative doing the heavy lifting. A sustained hold above $633 opens a path toward $651, while a loss of $612 exposes a quick move down to $594. Bitcoin's ongoing resistance battle adds macro noise on top. The fork is live and the tech is delivered — whether the 20,000 TPS headline converts into a price breakout above $672 and toward $700 now depends on sustained throughput, not the announcement.
Frequently asked questions
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What did the Osaka/Mendel hard fork change on BNB Smart Chain?
The fork activated at 02:30 UTC on April 28 with nine protocol enhancements — six Ethereum EIPs plus two BNB Chain-specific optimizations — and capped transaction gas at 16,777,216 units, building on the earlier Fermi and Maxwell block-time reductions.
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How fast is BNB Chain after the Osaka upgrade?
BSC targets 20,000 TPS on top of Fermi and Maxwell, which had already trimmed block times to 0.45 seconds. MEXC framed Osaka as the consolidation phase where those speed gains have to hold up under real load rather than testnet conditions.
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Do node operators need to upgrade for the Osaka hard fork?
Yes. Operators who migrated to BSC v1.7.2 before activation stayed synced with mainnet. Those who did not risked disconnection once the fork went live.
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What price levels matter for $BNB after the fork?
$BNB is hovering near a $633 pivot with RSI and MACD flat. A sustained hold above $633 opens a path toward $651; a loss of $612 exposes a quick move down to $594.
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Will the Osaka hard fork push $BNB above $700?
The fork delivers the throughput narrative but the chart is neutral. A clean consolidation phase and sustained real-world throughput could support upside toward $672 and beyond, while any post-fork technical issues would likely revive short-term selling pressure.
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