BNB Slips Below $870 Ahead of Major Fermi Upgrade

BNB slips below $870 ahead of the BSC Fermi hard fork, as traders weigh faster block times against sell-the-news risks.

The crypto market now has its eyes fixed on BNB as it prepares for one of its biggest technical changes in years. 

On January 14, the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) will undergo the “Fermi” hard fork. This upgrade is designed to slash block times from 750 milliseconds to just 450 milliseconds. 

While such a major improvement usually triggers a price rally, the token is currently showing signs of weakness. As of early January, BNB has slipped below the $870 level.

It is now leaving investors to wonder if the market is preparing for a “sell the news” event.

What of the “BNB under $870” Price Action

BNB is now showing signs of being in intense consolidation. After hitting an all-time high of $1,370 in October, the asset has struggled to maintain its strength upwards. 

The dip below $870 is especially interesting because it stood as a major technical barrier.

Traders are now watching the $818 support level to see whether it holds, because if the price fails to hold this floor, a deeper retracement toward the $790 zone could be on the horizon.

Historically, major network upgrades for BNB have led to price increases of 15% to 30%. For example, the Maxwell fork saw the price jump by nearly 19% soon after implementation. 

However, the 2026 market environment is different. Now that Bitcoin is trading near $90,000 and Ethereum is hovering around $3,100, altcoins are facing stiff competition for capital. 

The Fermi Hard Fork

The main driver for the BNB ecosystem right now is the Fermi hard fork. 

This fork is expected to reduce block intervals to 450 milliseconds and help the Binance Smart Chain to achieve over 5,000 transactions per second.

This is important for BNB Chain, if it were to compete with high-speed rivals like Solana. 

Faster finality would make the network more attractive for high-frequency trading and even more defi applications.

More than speed, the upgrade also introduces new cryptographic primitives like BN254. 

These tools make it easier for developers to build privacy-focused applications and if the Fermi fork successfully attracts more developers, the long-term value of the token could rise regardless of short-term price dips. 

Whale Activity vs. Retail Sentiment

While the price has slipped, “smart money” seems to be moving in a different direction. 

On-chain data indicates that crypto whales added roughly $160 million worth of the asset to their wallets in the final quarter of last year.

This shows that large holders are using the current price weakness to accumulate more tokens. 

Conversely, retail sentiment appears to be fueled by caution. The Fear & Greed Index for the asset has dipped into the “Fear” zone and Small traders are worried about ongoing regulatory scrutiny. 

This disconnect between whale accumulation and retail fear often comes before a major move.

If the whales continue to buy the dip, they could eventually absorb enough supply to trigger a supply shock once the Fermi upgrade goes live.

Related Reading: BNB Chain Sets Jan 14, 2026 Date for Fermi Hard Fork Upgrade

What Comes Next For BNB?

The biggest risk for BNB here, would be if the upgrade turns out to be a”sell the news” reaction. If the Fermi upgrade happens smoothly but the price does not move, impatient traders might start dumping their positions. 

Meanwhile, the release of new tokens from escrow and the ongoing regulatory discussions in the US continue to hang over the market.

Investors should consider a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) approach between the $820 and $860 levels, which would help manage the risk of a sudden drop, while keeping the door open for a post-upgrade rally.