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CZ responds to BNB Chain's new L1 plan to keep BNB as sole token
BNB Chain's proposed high-performance Layer 1 would run alongside BNB Smart Chain without a new token, drawing a 'Multiple chains, one coins' comment from
Key takeaways
- Shared asset. BNB would remain the gas, staking and governance token across BSC and New L1; staking would generate non-transferable govBNB at a one-to-one ratio.
- Performance targets. The design aims for 200-millisecond blocks, about 20-millisecond pre-confirmations and sub-second transaction-order finality, though pre-confirmations can be revoked before settlement.
- Timeline. An internal multi-validator devnet is running, with a public testnet planned for late 2026 and mainnet targeted for early 2027; the bridge and privacy system still need work.
What happened
BNB Chain's updated technical documentation, dated Oct. 22, outlines a second Layer 1 network that would run alongside BNB Smart Chain. The project, currently called New L1, has no official name. It is described as an EVM-compatible chain for applications needing faster processing and predictable execution, while BSC continues to support existing DeFi services, trading platforms and other applications.
The token model is the key choice. BNB would remain the native asset for gas, staking and governance on both networks, linked by a native bridge that is still being developed. Users would be able to move BNB from BSC to the new chain; staked BNB would produce govBNB at a one-to-one ratio, giving non-transferable governance voting rights. No separate cryptocurrency is planned. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao responded on X with the phrase 'Multiple chains, one coins.'
The design targets 200-millisecond blocks, pre-confirmations in about 20 milliseconds and transaction-order finality in under one second through an enhanced Parlia consensus mechanism with BLS voting. The documentation separates preliminary confirmation from final settlement: pre-confirmations can be revoked, so applications handling irreversible transfers must wait for execution finality. Ordering is separated from execution, and a Multi-Lane system reserves capacity for high-frequency trading, order books and payments. Solidity contracts remain compatible, though some Ethereum RPC methods and transaction types are not supported; the design also includes native account abstraction and an optional shielded pool for confidential transfers.
First $778.69Latest $738.85-5.1% over the period
Points are daily observations, not closing prices.
Why it matters
The proposal extends BNB's role instead of launching a new asset, a model that could let specialized networks share one token and one user base. But BNB Chain's documentation and outside analysis do not treat that as automatic: multiple chains with a shared asset do not guarantee more activity or additional token demand. They can also divide liquidity, developer attention and users, especially where applications overlap.
The focus on latency-sensitive trading and payments places the plan near dedicated trading infrastructure. Cryptonews.com noted that Aster Chain, backed by YZi Labs, formerly Binance Labs, launched a privacy-focused trading mainnet on March 17, 2026, targeting more than 100,000 transactions per second and median block times of 50 milliseconds. CZ remains involved in YZi Labs' investments, though that does not mean he directly controls every project the firm backs.
What the data shows
An Oct. 23 report on tokenized equities found BNB Chain processed about $25.6 billion in tokenized stock transactions in the third quarter and held roughly $1.13 billion in tokenized equity supply at quarter-end, with about 1.8 million holders. The network recorded 1.51 billion transactions in the quarter, while revenue rose 54% to $54.2 million. Blockonomi reported BNB traded near $740 at press time, up more than 2% over the previous seven days.
Background
BNB Chain has also been upgrading BSC. Crypto.news reported in January that its 2026 roadmap targeted 20,000 transactions per second and faster finality using parallel execution and Rust-based infrastructure. The Aug. 25 Pasteur hard fork changed BSC's block-building process and strengthened validator authorization and bridge verification. Controlled tests showed throughput rising from 1,237 to 2,324 transactions per second, though the report said those results did not establish equivalent gains under live conditions.
What is still unclear
New L1 is running on an internal multi-validator devnet with block production and end-to-end finality, but several components remain unfinished. The native bridge has not been completed, and the privacy system still needs security audits and additional trusted-setup work. The documentation warns that the current shielded pool should not be used with real funds. A public testnet is planned for the end of 2026, with mainnet targeted for early 2027; both dates remain subject to change, and public network endpoints will be published once a suitable testing environment is available.
What to watch
The next signals are the public testnet, completion of the bridge, the privacy audits and developer uptake. How activity is divided between BSC and New L1, and whether a shared BNB token produces measurable network effects, will be central to judging the plan. Aster Chain's separate trajectory is another comparison point for specialized trading infrastructure in the wider ecosystem.
Questions readers ask
Will BNB Chain's new L1 have its own token?
No. The proposal keeps BNB as the native asset for fees, staking and governance, with no separate cryptocurrency planned.
When is the new network expected to launch?
A public testnet is planned for the end of 2026, with mainnet targeted for early 2027. BNB Chain says the schedule remains subject to change.
What did CZ say about the plan?
Changpeng Zhao wrote 'Multiple chains, one coins' on X, pointing to the plan to operate more than one chain with BNB as the shared token.
