The Base network is preparing the Beryl upgrade: B20 tokens, faster withdrawals, and reduced fees.
The L2 network team Base has announced the activation of the Beryl upgrade, scheduled for June 25. The testnet is already live and undergoing final checks. This is one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in recent months.
The key innovation is the B20 standard. Unlike classic smart contracts, its logic is embedded directly into the client software of nodes. This approach allows for the creation of tokens that operate faster and with lower gas costs. B20 is fully compatible with the ERC-20 format, ensuring support for new assets by all popular wallets and exchanges without additional modifications. At launch, developers will have access to two templates: one for stablecoins and one for standard digital assets.
In the future, the B20 standard will enable fee payments directly in the tokens themselves, bypassing ETH, and will double the network's throughput. This will significantly lower the entry barrier for users and developers of decentralized applications.
An important improvement will also affect the bridge between Base and Ethereum. Asset withdrawal times will be reduced from seven to five days thanks to the implementation of the Multiproofs proof system. This will noticeably enhance liquidity and ease of interaction between networks.
The technical part of the upgrade includes the integration of Reth V2 — an updated version of the client that reduces disk space load on nodes and speeds up block processing. This is critically important for network scaling.
The next major upgrade, called Cobalt, is scheduled for September. It is expected to introduce native account abstraction — a step toward an even more user-friendly experience.
Recall that in May, Base already announced the integration of ZK-proofs from Succinct Labs to enhance security and accelerate transaction finalization. Beryl is a logical continuation of this strategy.
My analysis: Beryl is not just another upgrade but a fundamental shift in Base's architecture. The B20 standard could become a catalyst for the mass launch of stablecoins and new tokens on L2, while faster withdrawals make the network more competitive compared to other second-layer solutions. Keep an eye on the activation date — this event could impact activity in the Coinbase ecosystem.