Binance Halts Base Network Transfers Ahead of Major Cobalt Upgrade
Crypto exchange Binance is preparing for a major upgrade of the Base network, which includes implementing the Cobalt hard fork. As part of this process, Binance will pause token deposits and withdrawals on the Base network starting at 17:00 UTC on September 30, 2026.
The Cobalt upgrade introduces substantial modifications to Ethereum's Layer 2 infrastructure, including optimizing the B20 token standard, enabling scheduled multiplier updates, and introducing new operational directives. The protocol also redefines the signer registry in trusted execution environments (TEEs) and integrates a validity transaction mechanism alongside the Dynamic Upgrades feature.
The hard fork is scheduled to execute at 18:00 UTC on September 30, 2026. Trading services will not experience interruptions, as Binance will internally handle software requirements and node synchronization during this time.