Base Unveils Cobalt Upgrade with Enhanced Transaction Controls

Base, the Ethereum Layer 2 network backed by Coinbase, has launched its Cobalt upgrade, introducing new transaction controls and expanding tools for companies issuing tokens on the network. The upgrade is now live on Base mainnet and centers on two key areas: Validity Transactions and enhancements to Base's B20 token standard.

The new Validity Transactions feature allows users to set conditions and expiration times for when transactions can be executed. This could reduce the need for traders to continuously monitor markets and resubmit transactions, as they can now submit transactions that remain dormant until preset conditions are met. Submissions can also remain private until they are included onchain, potentially offering additional flexibility for sophisticated trading strategies.

Cobalt also introduces several updates to B20, Base's native token standard aimed at asset issuers. One addition, called Composite Policies, lets issuers combine requirements such as know-your-customer allowlists, accreditation rules, and sanctions blocklists using logical conditions. This could allow tokenized financial products to rely on multiple compliance providers without maintaining duplicate lists.

Base emphasized that users themselves set the conditions and sign the transactions. The changes reflect Base's broader push to position its network as infrastructure not only for crypto trading and payments, but also for issuing and managing tokenized assets.