Base is preparing a revolutionary Beryl update: the B20 standard and withdrawal acceleration
The team behind the L2 network Base has officially announced the key Beryl upgrade, with its mainnet activation scheduled for June 25. The testnet is already operational, and developers can begin testing the new features.
B20 Standard: A New Era for Tokens
The main innovation of the upgrade will be the implementation of the B20 standard. Unlike traditional smart contracts, its logic is integrated directly into the software code of the network nodes. This fundamentally changes the approach to token creation: they will operate significantly faster and with minimal fees. It is important to note that B20 is fully compatible with the ERC-20 format, ensuring support for new assets by all existing wallets and exchanges without any modifications. At launch, developers will have access to two ready-made templates: one for stablecoins and one for standard utility tokens.
Future Capabilities and Network Acceleration
In the future, the B20 standard will allow fees to be paid directly in the tokens themselves, completely eliminating the need for users to hold ETH for transactions. Additionally, the network's throughput will double, which is critically important for scaling DeFi applications. The update will also significantly reduce the time for withdrawing assets from Base to Ethereum: from the current seven days to five. This became possible thanks to the transition to the Multiproofs proof system, which optimizes the finalization process.
Technical Improvements and Future Plans
The technical part of the upgrade includes the implementation of the Reth V2 client. The new version will significantly reduce the load on node disk space and speed up block processing, making the network more efficient and accessible for node operators. The next major update, named Cobalt, is scheduled for September. It is expected to bring native account abstraction, which will simplify the user experience and expand opportunities for mass adoption.
Expert Opinion: Beryl is not just another upgrade, but a strategic step by Base towards full autonomy from Ethereum in terms of fees and speed. The B20 standard could become a catalyst for creating a new generation of tokens, and reducing the withdrawal time to five days makes the network competitive even compared to standalone blockchains. Of particular note is the integration of ZK-proofs from Succinct Labs, announced in May, which, combined with Beryl, creates a powerful foundation for scaling.