Base Network Prepares for Transformative Beryl Hard Fork

Base, the Ethereum Layer-2 network developed by Coinbase, has finalized the timeline for its next significant protocol upgrade, known as the Beryl hard fork. This update promises to enhance the network's capabilities and operational efficiency substantially.

Headline Feature: The Native B20 Token Standard

A centerpiece of the Beryl upgrade is the introduction of Base's native B20 token standard. Designed with modern asset issuance in mind, B20 offers full ERC-20 compatibility while integrating advanced features tailored for regulated and complex use cases like stablecoins and real-world assets (RWA).

The standard comes with a built-in compliance toolkit, enabling:

  • Programmable Transfer Policies for controlled token movements.
  • Asset Control Functions including freezing and seizing mechanisms.
  • Role-Based Access Control for granular permission management.
  • Transaction Memos and Supply Caps to aid transparency and issuance control.

Boosting User Experience and Network Performance

Beyond the new token standard, the hard fork delivers concrete improvements in two key areas:

1. Faster Withdrawals: The finality period for withdrawals using the single-proof method will be reduced from 7 days to 5 days, improving capital efficiency for users. The dual-proof fast withdrawal channel (utilizing TEE and ZK technology) will continue to offer finality in approximately 1 day.

2>Client Optimization: The upgrade includes the rollout of Reth execution client V2. This new version is engineered for greater efficiency, cutting node disk storage requirements by an estimated 50% while boosting transaction throughput by over 33%.

Activation Schedule

The upgrade will be deployed in a phased manner to ensure stability:

  • Testnet Activation: The Beryl hard fork is scheduled to go live on the Sepolia testnet at 2:00 AM UTC+8 on June 19.
  • Mainnet Activation: Provided testing is successful, the mainnet activation is set for 2:00 AM UTC+8 on June 26.

The Beryl hard fork represents a strategic step forward for Base, reinforcing its infrastructure with native token functionality and core performance enhancements to better serve developers and users building on-chain.