Base, Coinbase’s (NASDAQ:COIN) Ethereum Layer 2 network, is set to activate its second major network upgrade, known as Beryl, on mainnet on June 25, 2026. The upgrade, already deployed to the Base Sepolia testnet, introduces the B20 native token standard while delivering improvements in withdrawal efficiency and node performance.
This marks a significant step forward / milestone from the earlier Azul upgrade, which focused on protocol simplifications and a multiproof system.
Beryl positions Base as a stronger platform for on-chain asset issuance, particularly for stablecoins, real-world assets (RWAs), tokenized equities, and other long-tail tokens.
Developers and issuers will benefit from streamlined processes that reduce the need for custom smart contract development and audits.
At the core of the upgrade is the B20 token standard.
Unlike conventional ERC-20 tokens created through deployable smart contracts, B20 tokens are implemented as Rust precompiles—native code embedded directly into Base’s node software.
This approach enables faster execution, lower gas costs, and more efficient operations while maintaining full compatibility with existing ERC-20 tooling, wallets, decentralized exchanges, explorers, and indexers.
B20 includes a comprehensive built-in “Issuer Toolkit” with compliance-focused features audited by Base and Spearbit.
These include role-based access controls for minting, burning, pausing, and metadata updates; optional supply caps; granular transfer policies that can restrict activity based on sender, receiver, or executor; transfer memos for adding compliance notes; and a freeze-and-seize mechanism that allows burning of assets held by blocked addresses.
The standard supports two variants tailored to different use cases: The Asset variant offers configurable decimals (typically 6–18), additional metadata, on-chain event announcements, and rebasing support.
The Stablecoin variant uses a fixed 6-decimal precision and allows issuers to declare a fiat currency code.
These features make B20 particularly attractive for institutional issuers seeking efficient, compliant tokenization without building complex infrastructure from scratch.
Future enhancements are expected to allow gas payments in B20 tokens and further performance optimizations.
Beyond the new token standard, Beryl brings two other notable improvements.
First, it shortens the standard withdrawal delay from Base to Ethereum from seven days to five days along the single-proof path (the most common route).
The faster finality improves capital efficiency for bridging providers and enhances the overall user experience, with no action required from most users via the canonical bridge.
Second, the upgrade incorporates Reth V2, Base’s execution client, which reduces disk usage across node types and boosts overall performance and throughput.
Node operators are advised to upgrade to the latest software versions ahead of activation to take advantage of these optimizations.
The upgrade timeline aligns with Base’s rapid development pace—Beryl follows Azul by roughly four weeks—and forms part of a broader series of protocol improvements.
A subsequent upgrade codenamed Cobalt is planned for September, promising further advancements such as native account abstraction features.
The Beryl upgrade reflects Base’s growing focus on becoming a premier destination for real-world asset tokenization and efficient on-chain finance. By embedding token issuance capabilities natively into the chain, Base aims to lower barriers for issuers while maintaining the security, scalability, and developer-friendliness that have driven its adoption.