A New Native Token Standard
The upgrade introduces B20, a new native token standard built directly into the node software rather than deployed as a smart contract. Base engineers describe B20 as a superset of the ERC-20 standard, meaning tokens built on it stay compatible with existing wallets, exchanges, and decentralized apps.
Tokens issued under B20 run as Rust precompiles. Network engineers say this approach lowers transaction costs, reduces the amount of data nodes need to store, and increases throughput compared to standard smart contract tokens.
Built-In Compliance Tools
Base built B20 with stablecoin issuers and tokenized asset platforms in mind. The standard ships with compliance tools, including role-based permissions, optional supply caps, and a policy registry that lets issuers set transfer rules for specific addresses.
Image source: Base blog.
Issuers can also freeze or seize tokens from blocked addresses through a function called burnBlocked, a feature aimed at companies operating under regulatory requirements.
“Beryl makes Base a first-class issuance platform with the B20 token standard, more capital efficient with a reduced withdrawal delay, and more scalable with Reth V2,” Conner Swenberg and Base Engineering Team said this week.
Two B20 token types are available at launch. Asset tokens support configurable decimals and rebasing. Stablecoin tokens use a fixed six decimals and a self-declared currency code.
Faster Withdrawals, Leaner Nodes
Beryl also shortens the withdrawal finalization window for the single-proof bridge path from seven days to five. Base added a faster dual-proof option during its prior Azul upgrade in May, which already settles in about one day.
A separate change swaps in Reth V2, an updated execution client from Paradigm. Base says the new client cuts node disk usage by roughly half and raises throughput by about a third.
What Node Operators Need to Know
Node operators running Base infrastructure need to upgrade their software to basenode version 1.1.1 or later before the June 25 activation. Base says most users and existing smart contracts require no action.
The Beryl testnet version went live on Base Sepolia on June 18. Exchanges, including Binance, have signaled plans for temporary deposit and withdrawal pauses around the mainnet activation window.
Looking Ahead to Cobalt
Base has another upgrade, called Cobalt, planned for September. Engineers say that the release will add native account abstraction and further updates to the B20 standard.
The pace of the two upgrades, Azul in May and Beryl in June, points to Base moving quickly to compete for stablecoin and tokenized asset issuance among layer-two ( L2) networks.