Binance has declared its intention to support the anticipated upgrade and hard fork of the Base network slated for September 30, 2026. In preparation, the exchange will temporarily suspend deposit and withdrawal operations for tokens on the Base network starting around 8 p.m. Turkish Standard Time on the same day.
Detailed Timeline for the Upgrade
The scheduled network upgrade and hard fork are projected to occur around 9 p.m. Turkish Standard Time. Binance assures users that it will intricately manage the technical aspects, ensuring uninterrupted trading of tokens on the Base network during the transition.
What Does the Cobalt Upgrade Entail?
The Cobalt update introduces enhancements to the B20 token standard, including transaction fee payments using B20 assets, scheduled multiplier updates, simplified disabled transfer structures, as well as Union and Intersect policies. Additionally, a new transaction type named “validity transaction” is being incorporated into the system. Base network nodes will also benefit from dynamic upgrades via an Ethereum smart contract that enables real-time application of necessary changes.
Glossary: Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) refers to the secure area of a system that is isolated from the rest for executing specific operations, providing both hardware and software protection. Attestation is the cryptographic verification ensuring this secure environment operates as expected.
Shifting TEE Registration On-Chain?
The Cobalt upgrade modifies the registration method for new Trusted Execution Environment signers. AWS Nitro attestations will be validated on-chain in a trustless manner using controlled P 384 hints, replacing the previously used RISC Zero and Boundless proving flows.
Binance confirms that once the upgraded network stabilizes, token deposits and withdrawals will resume. No additional announcements will follow this reopening phase as per the exchange’s current plan.
- Base network’s imminent upgrade includes infrastructure improvements.
- The Cobalt upgrade introduces efficiency and functionality enhancements.
- Trustless on-chain validations mark a significant change in security approaches.
A subsequent upgrade named Denim is targeted for October 2026. This coming enhancement aims to implement 200-millisecond local block production, BaseTime for on-chain millisecond-level time structure, and millisecond-resolution RPC timestamps.
