The Berachain community is introducing a governance proposal aimed at reducing transaction inclusion times from two seconds to approximately 200 milliseconds. This initiative joins others in the blockchain sector that strive to deliver nearly instantaneous transaction processing.
The proposal, titled “BRIP-0007: Berachain Preconfirmations”, outlines a plan for an optional “fast lane” for users who prioritize speed without jeopardizing the security of the blockchain network.
It introduces a method allowing transactions to seem confirmed within under a second, enhancing the experience for decentralized finance (DeFi) exchanges, onchain gaming, and any applications sensitive to latency, making them comparable in responsiveness to traditional Web2 applications.
In essence, the preconfirmation layer won’t change the existing consensus mechanism of the network but will integrate a sequencer that compiles transactions into smaller “partial blocks.” This provides users and decentralized applications (DApps) with almost real-time feedback before the typical two-second block validation is finalized.
Berachain preconfirmations proposal. Source: Berachain
Benefits of Preconfirmations for Berachain
The goal of this design is to cut down on the perceived delays by employing a lightweight sequencer to temporarily validate and communicate partial transaction data.
As a result, users will see their transactions recognized within 200 milliseconds, even as finalization takes place over the initially scheduled two seconds. This advancement has the potential to make decentralized exchanges and Web3 games as swift as centralized systems. It allows developers to create applications where transactions, movements, or payments feel instantaneous, even when full settlement happens shortly after.
The proposal emphasizes both security and system consistency. If the sequencer fails to synchronize, Berachain would revert to its standard two-second block construction cycle, thereby maintaining network integrity.
Preconfirmations in Other Blockchains
Berachain is not pioneering the concept of preconfirmations in the blockchain environment. Initially discussed within Ethereum research circles, the strategy provides a way to present “soft confirmations” before a transaction is officially executed on-chain.
Ethereum layer-2 networks have been trialing similar features for near-instant inclusion via shared sequencers and fast lane systems. For instance, in July, Base implemented Flashblocks, introducing preconfirmations to its mainnet.
Recently, preconfirmations were added to the Ethereum mainnet through a new Remote Call Procedure (RPC) provided by the Ethereum infrastructure platform Primev, allowing for quicker transfers and smart contract interactions within the mainnet.
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