Base unveils Beryl upgrade with native B20 token standard

Base will activate its Beryl network upgrade on mainnet on June 25, introducing a native token standard for issuing stablecoins, real world assets, and other onchain tokens.

The upgrade is already live on the Base Sepolia testnet. It will also reduce the standard withdrawal delay from Base to Ethereum and improve node performance through Reth V2.

Beryl arrives four weeks after Azul, the upgrade that moved Base onto the Base Stack and introduced a multiproof system for securing withdrawals.

Its main feature is B20, a token standard that runs through code embedded directly into Base node software instead of a conventional smart contract.

B20 follows the ERC-20 specification, allowing tokens created under the standard to work with existing wallets, exchanges, explorers, indexers, and onchain protocols.

The standard includes an issuer toolkit with controls for minting, burning, pausing, supply caps, transfer restrictions, signature based approvals, transfer memos, and freezing or burning assets held by blocked addresses.

Base said the toolkit was audited by Base and Spearbit.

B20 will launch with two variants. The Asset version is designed for general token issuance and includes configurable decimals, issuer metadata, event announcements, and rebasing support. The Stablecoin version is built for fiat backed assets and uses six decimal precision with an issuer selected currency code.

Tokens issued through B20 will behave like standard ERC-20 assets, meaning applications will not need a separate integration.

Base also plans to let users pay transaction fees with B20 tokens instead of ETH, create virtual deposit addresses, and access balances, transfer histories, and token metadata directly through node calls.

The network expects native execution to eventually make transfers about 50% cheaper and double transfer throughput.

Beryl will also cut the standard withdrawal delay from Base to Ethereum from seven days to five.

Azul introduced a one day withdrawal path when two proof systems confirm a transaction, but Base said it is rarely used because generating the required zero knowledge proof remains expensive.

Beryl instead reduces the delay for the more common single proof process. Base said the five day window still provides time to detect and disable a faulty prover before funds are released.

Reth V2 will reduce disk usage across full, minimal, and archive nodes while improving how quickly nodes calculate state roots.

Base said the changes will allow it to raise block gas targets and limits without overloading its sequencer or node infrastructure.

Users will not need to take any action. Node operators must update to the latest software before Beryl activates on June 25.

Base’s next upgrade, Cobalt, is targeted for September and is expected to introduce native account abstraction, expand B20 functionality, and combine the network’s consensus and execution clients into a unified node binary.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.