The race to scale Ethereum without sacrificing decentralization has entered a new phase. Coinbase Ethereum efforts took a major step forward as Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase, activated its Azul upgrade on mainnet. The release introduces a new proof system and client stack designed to improve performance while reducing reliance on centralized infrastructure.
The biggest change is the introduction of multiproofs. These combine trusted execution environment (TEE) proofs with zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs. Either proof system can independently finalize a proposal. When both agree, withdrawal finality can be reduced to as little as one day.
The design also strengthens security. If permissioned TEE proofs conflict with permissionless ZK proofs, the ZK proofs take priority. Base says this approach is an important step toward censorship resistance and Stage 2 decentralization.
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Coinbase Ethereum Network Introduces Azul Architecture
Azul also brings a major overhaul to Base’s technical foundation. The network now operates on a single execution client called base-reth-node. Alongside it comes base-consensus, a new consensus client built on OP Kona.
This marks the first independent upgrade executed by Base. The results have already been significant. According to the team, empty blocks have fallen by roughly 99%, dropping from around 200 per day to just two. The upgraded system has also handled multiple bursts of 5,000 transactions per second.
Developers benefit as well. The update introduces the CLZ opcode and aligns Base with Ethereum’s Osaka execution-layer repricing specifications. Most applications will not require major code rewrites.
Coinbase Ethereum Ecosystem Continues Rapid Growth
The Azul launch arrives as Base strengthens its position among Ethereum scaling networks. By late May, the network held approximately $4.4 billion in total value locked. Stablecoin market capitalization stood near $4.98 billion, making Base the largest destination for USDC liquidity among optimistic rollups.
The roadmap remains ambitious. Base plans a performance-focused upgrade by the end of June, followed by a user-experience update around August. Native account abstraction is also on the horizon.
For Coinbase Ethereum users, Azul represents more than a technical upgrade. It is another step toward a faster, more decentralized future for Ethereum scaling.
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