Base has reduced empty blocks by roughly 99% ahead of a major infrastructure upgrade, signaling improved network efficiency at scale. The changes come as the Coinbase-incubated Layer 2 prepares for a key decentralization milestone.
The network on Tuesday launched its Azul upgrade on testnet, introducing a multiproof system and a new client architecture. Base said the system combines trusted execution environment (TEE) proofs with zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, allowing either to finalize transactions independently. A mainnet activation is scheduled for May 13, marking the network’s first independent upgrade cycle.
Base Azul is live on testnet - our first independent network upgrade.
— Base (@base) April 21, 2026
Azul makes Base more secure, performant, and easier to build on.
More on what's inside: https://t.co/Ls6bGGCxVP
Can Multiproof Systems Accelerate Layer 2 Decentralization?
Azul reflects a broader push among Ethereum scaling networks to balance performance with trust minimization. Base reported handling bursts of up to 5,000 transactions per second while cutting empty blocks from about 200 daily to roughly two. Data from DeFiLlama shows the network holds around $4.4 billion in total value locked (TVL), placing it among the largest Layer 2 ecosystems alongside competitors like Arbitrum and Optimism.
The design introduces a fallback mechanism where permissionless ZK proofs can override permissioned TEE proofs if conflicts arise. Base said agreement between both proof systems can reduce withdrawal finality to as little as one day, improving user experience without requiring major application changes. The upgrade also consolidates execution into a single client, base-reth-node, and introduces a new consensus layer.
Still, the transition carries operational risks. Base is running an audit competition on Immunefi through May 4 with a $250,000 reward pool to identify critical vulnerabilities before deployment. The upgrade also aligns the network with Ethereum’s Osaka execution specifications, aiming to streamline development without forcing large-scale rewrites.
But will hybrid proof systems become the standard for high-throughput Layer 2 networks? The next milestone will be Azul’s mainnet activation in May, followed by additional performance and user experience upgrades planned through the third quarter.
