Base to activate B20 token standard for stablecoins, RWAs

Coinbase-backed Base will activate the B20 token standard on its mainnet at 6 pm UTC, allowing developers to create stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and other fungible tokens with native issuer controls. The activation provides a native token framework on Base for assets that previously required custom ERC-20 contracts and separate security audits.

B20 was introduced as part of Base’s Beryl upgrade. Network documentation describes two B20 variants. The asset variant allows configurable decimal precision between six and 18 decimals. The stablecoin variant uses a fixed six-decimal format and requires issuers to declare a fiat denomination such as the US dollar or euro.

Base’s documentation indicates the standard is compatible with ERC-20 tokens and adds issuer controls. Controls include supply limits, transfer rules, minting and burning functions, the ability to pause tokens and transaction notes. These features are designed to let issuers manage token behavior without writing and auditing separate token contracts.

The Beryl upgrade went live on June 26 and shortened withdrawal waiting periods from seven days to five days. The update also included technical changes aimed at improving performance on Base’s sequencer infrastructure.

Activation follows recent network disruptions tied to the sequencer. On June 25 the network experienced an outage caused by an invalid block that prevented new blocks from being created, halting block production for nearly two hours. A post-mortem attributed back-to-back outages on June 25 and June 26 to a sequencer bug: the first incident lasted about 116 minutes, and a second outage lasted about 20 minutes after a race condition following a system reset.

The initial outage occurred hours before the planned Beryl upgrade, and the upgrade was delayed by one day because of a timing issue related to the B20 activation registry. With the standard now active, developers can deploy tokens using B20 and rely on the network’s built-in issuer mechanics rather than creating and auditing separate ERC-20 contracts.