BNB’s Beacon Chain Prepares for ZhangHeng Upgrade, Enhancing Security

Introduction:

BNB’s Beacon Chain, the fourth-largest blockchain by market cap, is gearing up for its ZhangHeng upgrade, as announced on July 12. This significant development brings forth two crucial changes to enhance security and address a vulnerability within the BNB Beacon Chain. Scheduled for July 19, 2023, at 6:00 UTC, this upgrade marks a pivotal moment for BNB holders and node operators alike. Let’s delve into the details of the ZhangHeng upgrade and its implications for the BNB ecosystem.

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Key Takeaways:

• The ZhangHeng upgrade of BNB’s Beacon Chain is set to take place on July 19, 2023, at 6:00 UTC, at block height 328,088,888.
• This upgrade introduces BEP-255, enabling on-chain asset reconciliation to enhance security and identify discrepancies in user balance changes.
• The bug fix included in the upgrade addresses the vulnerability known as the Rogue Key Attack, safeguarding the correctness of the network’s Fast Finality mechanism.
• BNB holders and users of exchanges or hardware wallets supporting BNB are not required to take any action unless notified otherwise by their service provider.

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Details of the ZhangHeng Upgrade:

The forthcoming ZhangHeng upgrade encompasses two critical changes that contribute to the improved security and stability of BNB’s Beacon Chain.

1. On-chain Asset Reconciliation (BEP-255):

The upgrade introduces BEP-255, which revolutionizes security measures by implementing on-chain asset reconciliation. This feature meticulously tracks changes in user balances within each block and reconciles them to detect any discrepancies. In case of reconciliation errors, the blockchain will halt the production of new blocks, ensuring the integrity of the network.

2. Fixing the Rogue Key Attack Vulnerability:

The ZhangHeng upgrade also addresses a vulnerability called the Rogue Key Attack. By clearing all existing vote addresses at the hard fork’s height, this bug fix safeguards the correctness of the network’s Fast Finality mechanism. Validators will need to add their vote addresses again after the upgrade, ensuring a more secure and reliable system.

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Impact on Users:

For most BNB users, this upgrade will not have a direct impact on their experience. Holders of BNB and users of exchanges or hardware wallets supporting BNB need not take any action unless otherwise instructed by their service provider. However, node operators are required to take proactive measures to ensure a seamless transition.

Node Operators’ Responsibility:

To avoid any disruptions, node operators must update their software version to v0.10.16 before the hard fork block height. Failing to upgrade in time will necessitate a recovery process. Node operators are advised to follow the instructions provided by the BNB development team to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted operation.

Conclusion:

The upcoming ZhangHeng upgrade for BNB’s Beacon Chain is set to strengthen the security of the network and address the vulnerability known as the Rogue Key Attack. By implementing on-chain asset reconciliation and applying bug fixes, BNB takes a significant step towards fortifying the integrity of its blockchain. While most BNB users can continue utilizing the crypto without any immediate changes, node operators must ensure they update their software version promptly to avoid complications during the hard fork.

Source: CryptoSlate

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