The upgrade introduces B20, a native token standard that allows stablecoins and other assets to be issued directly through Base’s node software while remaining compatible with ERC-20. Beryl also reduces the standard withdrawal period from Base to Ethereum from seven days to five days and integrates the Reth V2 execution client. The upgrade is designed to enhance token issuance, scalability, and overall user experience in the Base ecosystem.
Base Getting Ready to Launch Beryl Upgrade
Coinbase-incubated Ethereum Layer 2 network Base rolled out its second major network upgrade, known as Beryl, to the Base Sepolia testnet. Mainnet activation is scheduled for June 25. The upgrade introduces several big changes aimed at improving token issuance, network efficiency, and user experience while laying the groundwork for future scalability.
One of the most exciting additions is B20, a new native token standard that allows stablecoins and other digital assets to be issued directly through Base’s node software. Unlike traditional ERC-20 tokens that operate through smart contracts deployed on-chain, B20 tokens function as precompiled contracts.
This means that their logic is written in Rust and executed directly in the network’s node software, which reduces overhead and potentially improves performance. Despite this architectural difference, B20 is still fully compatible with the ERC-20 standard and includes support for ERC-2612 permits. This makes it possible for token holders to authorize transactions through cryptographic signatures without requiring separate approval transactions.
Base also introduced an Issuer Toolkit. The toolkit includes role-based access controls, minting and burning capabilities, optional supply caps, transfer restrictions, and freeze-and-seize functions. At launch, B20 supports both a general-purpose asset format and a stablecoin-specific version that uses fixed six-decimal precision and allows issuers to define a currency code. Base indicated that future updates may allow transaction fees to be paid using B20 tokens rather than ETH.
Issuer Toolkit (Source: Base)
The Beryl upgrade also improves the withdrawal process from Base to Ethereum. The standard withdrawal period will be reduced from seven days to five days for the route used by most bridging providers.
This improvement builds on the Multiproofs system that was introduced during Base’s previous Azul upgrade. While Multiproofs already enabled a faster one-day withdrawal path using both trusted execution environments and zero-knowledge proofs, that route has seen limited adoption due to the high cost of generating the required proofs. Beryl instead focuses on optimizing the more widely used single-proof withdrawal path.
The upgrade also includes the integration of Reth V2, the latest version of the Rust-based execution client that powers the network. The new client reduces storage requirements for full, minimal, and archive nodes while improving overall performance. These efficiency gains will allow Base to increase block gas limits without placing excessive strain on sequencers or RPC infrastructure.
Through the combination of native asset issuance, faster withdrawals, and infrastructure improvements, Beryl is a huge step in Base’s strategy to enhance scalability, improve usability, and support a bigger range of applications in its ecosystem.
