Base has activated its Azul upgrade on mainnet, giving the Coinbase-incubated Ethereum layer-2 network a more independent technical stack and a stronger proof architecture as it moves towards fuller decentralisation.The upgrade went live on Base mainnet on May 28 at 18:00 UTC, following an earlier testnet launch on Base Sepolia in April. It marks a major protocol shift for one of the largest Ethereum scaling networks, replacing parts of the Optimism-derived stack with Base-specific execution and consensus clients while introducing a multiproof system intended to reduce reliance on any single verification method.
Azul’s central feature is the deployment of multiproofs, combining trusted execution environment proofs and zero-knowledge proofs. The system allows either proof type to finalise a block proposal, while agreement between both can reduce withdrawals from Base to Ethereum to as little as one day. Where the two proof types conflict, the zero-knowledge proof takes priority, and the system is designed to trigger safeguards against a faulty prover.
That change addresses one of the most closely watched questions around layer-2 networks: how quickly large rollups can move from operator-controlled systems to infrastructure that can detect and resolve faults without depending on privileged intervention. Base reached Stage 1 decentralisation in April 2025 after launching permissionless fault proofs and placing contract upgrade powers under a security council framework. Azul is now being positioned as a technical step towards Stage 2, where a rollup’s code and proof systems carry greater authority than any emergency governance group except in narrowly defined bug scenarios.
The upgrade also requires node operators to migrate to Base’s new client stack. Nodes running older software such as op-node, op-geth, op-reth, Nethermind or Kona are not compatible with Azul. Operators are expected to use base-reth-node for execution and base-consensus for consensus, a shift that gives Base more control over performance tuning, proof integration and upgrade design.
Base’s engineering roadmap has placed particular emphasis on reliability and throughput. The network has said the Azul-era stack reduces empty blocks sharply and supports higher transaction bursts, strengthening the platform’s appeal to decentralised exchanges, stablecoin applications, payment services and consumer-facing onchain products. That performance push comes as layer-2 networks compete for developers by offering cheaper fees, faster settlement and easier application deployment than Ethereum mainnet.
Base has grown rapidly because of its connection to Coinbase, which gives it access to a large user base and a familiar compliance-oriented brand. That advantage has helped it attract decentralised finance protocols, NFT platforms, social applications and payment projects. The same connection has also raised scrutiny over how decentralised the network can become while remaining closely associated with a listed US exchange.
Azul is therefore important not only as a software upgrade but also as a credibility test. A chain that processes high-value activity must convince users and developers that its security does not depend on a narrow group of insiders. Multiproofs strengthen that argument by making it harder for a single compromised or faulty proof system to threaten the network. But Base still faces the broader challenge common to most rollups: sequencer decentralisation remains unfinished, and many layer-2 systems continue to rely on centralised transaction ordering.
Competition across Ethereum scaling networks is intensifying. Arbitrum, Optimism, zkSync, Starknet, Linea and Scroll are all pursuing different combinations of decentralisation, speed, interoperability and developer incentives. Base’s strategy has increasingly focused on becoming a high-volume settlement layer for everyday onchain finance, with trading, payments, stablecoins and app-based transactions at the centre of its pitch.
Azul also signals a gradual shift in the relationship between Base and the Optimism ecosystem. Base was built on the OP Stack and remains aligned with Ethereum’s broader rollup roadmap, but the new client architecture gives it more room to optimise its own network. That move may allow faster experimentation, though it also places more responsibility on Base to maintain security standards and avoid fragmentation.
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