Base Launches Cobalt Hard Fork With Condition-Based Transactions

Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network, is set to undergo a significant upgrade on September 30th. The Cobalt hard fork will introduce condition-based transactions, automate future network upgrades, and make changes to token and signer infrastructure.

The new feature allows for signed transactions to become eligible only after specified conditions are met, such as balance, storage, or block-number requirements. This expands the B20 token standard with scheduled multiplier updates and simpler transfer-blocking functionality.

Additionally, Cobalt introduces an automated process for future network upgrades through an Ethereum smart contract that stores fork timestamps. This allows Base nodes to read the schedule and activate upgrades at designated times without a client restart.