Cobalt, the third mainnet release for Base, deployed on Wednesday with the goal of offering traders enhanced oversight via Validity Transactions while introducing fresh capabilities to the B20 token framework.
Validity Transactions let participants initiate time-restricted transactions that stay inactive until specific criteria are satisfied, according to an announcement provided to The Block prior to release. This grants traders enhanced management over the parameters and execution timing for valid transaction processing on Base.
By way of illustration, a participant could queue an exchange that only qualifies for processing if a liquidity pool hits a designated USDC threshold prior to a specific block height, the developers noted. Should the price meet that target within the designated window, Base processes the transaction; otherwise, it is permanently ignored.
"The API acts as neutral architecture, giving sophisticated traders the extra advantage of preserving the confidentiality of their pending orders until execution," stated Base.
B20 token standard
The Ethereum Layer 2 network incubated by Coinbase (COIN) also integrates updates to its B20 token standard, which originally debuted alongside the Beryl upgrade on Base back in June.
Composite Policies allow token creators to merge current allowlists and blocklists using logical conjunctions or disjunctions, Base clarified.
"This capability allows teams to leverage active rules, like KYC permission lists and anti-money laundering blocklists, avoiding duplicate registries or off-chain data synchronization requirements," the network added.
As an illustration, an investment vehicle might mandate that a beneficiary appear on both a regulatory verification roster and an internal investor roster. Any asset movement would be rejected if the target address failed either compliance check.
Concurrently, Schedule Multiplier Updates synchronize the B20 Asset multiplier mechanism with the ERC-8056 specification, enabling issuers to automate modifications regarding how token balances are presented, such as during equity splits. Legacy integrations built on the Beryl release remain fully operational, whereas upcoming applications can integrate the revised specification gradually, the developers mentioned.
Lastly, Cobalt introduces a seizeWithMemo capability designed for B20 tokens and digital currencies, permitting designated managers to transfer a wallet balance when asset confiscation features are activated.
Base provided a scenario involving a locked account where an authorized controller transfers holdings to a recovery address. The resulting network transaction logs the origin, target, volume, and an attached note directly on the blockchain.
During the upcoming months, Base announced intentions to shorten block durations from two seconds down to 200 milliseconds, embed smart accounts natively into the protocol layer supporting transaction grouping and gas subsidies, and integrate a selection of EVM upgrades drawn from Ethereum’s Glamsterdam release.
Originally published at https://www.theblock.co/news/ecosystems/2026-09-30-base-launches-cobalt-upgrade-with-conditional-transactions-and-new-b20-asset-functions-417308.
