Overview
- Base deployed the Cobalt upgrade to Mainnet on Wednesday, Sept. 30, making it the network’s third major protocol update.
- Cobalt introduces Validity Transactions, which let users submit conditional swaps that stay dormant and private until specified on‑chain criteria such as price targets or deadlines are met.
- The B20 token standard gained Composite Policies that let issuers combine allowlists and blocklists with OR/AND logic and Schedule Multiplier Updates that change how balances display for events like stock splits without minting or burning tokens.
- A new seizeWithMemo function lets issuers enable authorized administrators to move tokens from frozen accounts and record an on‑chain memo explaining the action; Base said issuers control whether the feature is active and who can use it.
- Markets and prediction markets nudged short‑term odds for a future Base token higher after Cobalt but no token was announced, and observers say further issuer adoption or statements from Coinbase leaders will be the key signals to watch as Base advances its roadmap for faster blocks, smart accounts, gas sponsorship, and bundling.