Base is preparing a revolutionary upgrade for Beryl: the B20 standard, accelerated withdrawals, and Reth V2
The Layer 2 network Base has officially announced the launch of the long-awaited Beryl upgrade. Activation on the mainnet is scheduled for June 25, while the testnet is already fully operational. This is one of the most significant upgrades for the Coinbase ecosystem since its launch.
B20 Standard: A New Era for Tokens
The key innovation is the B20 standard. Unlike classic smart contracts, its logic is embedded directly into the node software code. This fundamentally changes the paradigm: tokens created under B20 operate faster and are significantly cheaper to issue and transfer. At the same time, the standard is fully compatible with ERC-20, ensuring support from all popular wallets and exchanges without any modifications. At launch, developers have access to two templates: one for stablecoins and one for standard digital assets.
In the future, B20 will allow fees to be paid directly in the tokens themselves, completely eliminating the need to use ETH for gas fees. Moreover, the network's throughput will double — a direct response to growing load and the need for scaling.
Faster Withdrawals and Technical Optimization
The upgrade also significantly improves the user experience when withdrawing assets from Base to Ethereum. Instead of seven days, the procedure will now take just five. This became possible thanks to the transition to the Multiproofs proof system — a more efficient transaction verification mechanism.
The technical part of the upgrade includes the implementation of the Reth V2 client. The new version significantly reduces the load on node disk space and speeds up block processing, which is critical for maintaining low fees and high network performance.
What's Next?
The next major upgrade, called Cobalt, is scheduled for September. It is expected to introduce native account abstraction — a feature that could radically simplify user interaction with dApps.
Recall that in May, Base already integrated ZK-proofs from Succinct Labs to enhance security and speed up transaction finalization. Beryl is a logical continuation of this strategy aimed at creating the most efficient and user-friendly L2 infrastructure.
My analysis: Beryl is not just a routine upgrade but a strategic move that could propel Base to a leading position among L2 solutions. The B20 standard essentially creates a new class of assets with a fundamentally different economy, which is especially important for memecoins and high-frequency DeFi protocols. Reducing withdrawal times to five days is also a strong argument for users migrating from competitors. I eagerly await Cobalt in September: if native account abstraction is implemented just as well, Base could become the de facto standard for mass adoption.