Overview
- Base activated the Cobalt hard fork on Sept. 30, 2026 at 18:00 UTC after a Sepolia trial, and initial reports say the rollout completed without major disruption.
- Cobalt introduces Validity Transactions, which let users submit private, conditional transactions that execute only if specified on-chain conditions are met at inclusion.
- The B20 token standard gains Composite Policies for combining allowlists and blocklists, scheduled multiplier updates for display-only balance changes like stock splits, and a seizeWithMemo function that records administrative transfers on-chain.
- Node operators were required to install Base v1.4.2 before activation, and some custodians paused Base transfers as a precaution, though the network stayed operational after the upgrade.
- Cobalt is the latest step in Base’s fast upgrade cadence toward faster blocks and native smart accounts, and observers say its issuer controls and conditional trades could accelerate tokenized finance use cases while raising operational and compliance questions.