BNB Chain outlines new layer-1 built for AI trading

BNB Chain is planning a new layer-1 blockchain aimed at faster trading and AI-driven transactions, according to its H2 2026 technical roadmap. For everyday crypto investors, the pitch is straightforward: if automated software starts sending far more trades and payments on-chain, the network needs to process them without slowing down or making users vulnerable to poor execution.

A layer-1 is the base blockchain that processes and records transactions directly, rather than relying on another chain for settlement. BNB Chain said the planned network would operate next to the current BNB Chain infrastructure rather than replace it.

According to BNB Chain developers, the testnet is expected by the end of 2026, with a mainnet launch planned for early 2027. A testnet is a trial version used by developers before real assets move on the live network, known as mainnet.

The new chain is being designed for high-frequency trading, automated payments and AI agent activity, BNB Chain said. AI agents are software programs that can act on user instructions, such as placing trades or making payments, without a person manually approving every step.

Speed is the center of the plan

BNB Chain said the future network is intended to eventually process more than 100,000 transactions per second. The developers said they plan to reach that level by allowing multiple transactions to be handled at the same time and by improving how the network stores and verifies data.

The roadmap also sets speed targets for confirmation and settlement. BNB Chain said it is aiming for transaction confirmation in under 50 milliseconds and block finality in less than one second. Finality means the point when a transaction is considered settled and cannot be practically reversed.

Those numbers matter because trading systems depend on timing. If a blockchain takes too long to accept or finalize a trade, prices can change before the transaction lands. That gap can raise costs for users, especially in decentralized finance, where trades happen directly through blockchain-based applications.

TxStream targets front-running risk

One planned feature is TxStream, according to BNB Chain. The system would remove the public mempool, the waiting area where pending blockchain transactions can be viewed before they are added to a block.

Instead, TxStream would send transactions directly to block leaders, BNB Chain said. The developers said the goal is to reduce delay and limit front-running, a practice where someone sees a pending transaction and places their own transaction ahead of it to profit from the expected price move.

BNB Chain also said its first-half 2026 upgrades to BNB Smart Chain cut block intervals from 750 milliseconds to 450 milliseconds. The developers said benchmark throughput rose from about 2,800 transactions per second to 5,200 transactions per second.

The roadmap says the next phase will focus on pushing throughput higher and reducing congestion between applications. BNB Chain also listed AI agent tools, privacy features and research into quantum-resistant security among planned areas of work.

BNB, the network’s native token, was listed at $568.35, down 0.57%, according to the price data included with the report.

This story draws on original reporting from Decrypt.