The first independent upgrade of the Base network, "Base Azul," has been scheduled for deployment to the mainnet on May 13, 2026. The upgrade is currently live on the testnet, with its core objectives being to enhance network security, improve performance, and optimize the developer experience.
This upgrade includes several key updates: it will activate a multi-proof system combining Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) with Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs, advancing the network toward the second stage of decentralization, and is expected to reduce withdrawal times to as fast as within one day. Additionally, the network will be integrated into a single high-performance client stack, base-reth-node and base-consensus, which is projected to significantly reduce the number of daily empty blocks from approximately 200 to about 2, and has already successfully sustained burst throughput of 5000 TPS multiple times. Furthermore, the upgrade will align the execution layer specification with Ethereum Osaka.
To ensure the security of the upgrade, Base has simultaneously launched a bug bounty competition on the Immunefi platform, with a maximum prize pool of $250,000. The network's subsequent upgrade roadmap has also been announced, including a performance upgrade planned for the end of June and a user experience upgrade scheduled for the end of August. Base also plans to launch the public development network Vibenet in mid-May.