Base Deploys Azul Upgrade on Testnet Ahead of May 13 Mainnet Launch

Base, the Layer 2 network backed by Coinbase, has deployed its Azul upgrade on testnet. The development team described it as the network's first independent upgrade, with mainnet activation scheduled for May 13.

«Base Azul is live on testnet — our first independent network upgrade. Azul makes Base more secure, performant, and easier to build on.» — Base (@base), original post

Why This Matters

Azul marks the first upgrade built entirely on Base's own stack, following the network's decision in February to move away from the Optimism stack in favor of a proprietary unified architecture. The release signals Base's transition toward an independent upgrade cadence and its push toward Stage 2 decentralization. For users and developers, the upgrade promises faster asset withdrawals and improved security through a novel proof system.

Multi-Proof System and Unified Client

At its core, Azul introduces a multi-proof architecture combining two proof types:

• Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) proofs
• Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs

Each type can independently finalize a block, while their combined operation reduces asset withdrawal times to just one day. In cases where the two proof types conflict, ZK proofs take precedence over TEE.

Beyond the proof system, Azul streamlines the network's software infrastructure by consolidating it into a single client stack:

• base-reth-node — the sole execution client;
• base-consensus — a new consensus layer built on Kona, designed to boost blockchain performance and optimize operations.

Testnet Results

The testing phase has already yielded tangible improvements. Over the past two months, the number of empty blocks dropped by 99% — from 200 to just two per day. The network also withstood several peak loads reaching 5,000 transactions per second.

The upgrade brings Base into alignment with the latest specifications of the Osaka component, activated on Ethereum's execution layer as part of the Fusaka hard fork. Most applications will require no changes — only certain node operators and developers using specialized features will need to adapt. End users do not need to take any action until Azul goes live on mainnet.

Security Audit and Roadmap

Ahead of the mainnet launch, Base is running a bug bounty competition on the Immunefi platform. Submissions are accepted until May 4, with a $250,000 prize pool for critical vulnerability discoveries.

The team has outlined several additional upgrades in the coming months:

• Late June — a performance upgrade featuring a built-in token standard, Flashblock access lists, a unified binary client, and accelerated withdrawals;
• August — a user experience update with native account abstraction;
• Mid-May — launch of Vibenet, a public developer network for experimenting with upcoming features before they reach mainnet.

The Base team emphasized that Azul is the first upgrade on a stack the project fully controls, establishing a sustainable rhythm of independent upgrades on the path toward a global, permissionless onchain economy.