Base, an Ethereum layer-2 blockchain incubated by Coinbase, is set to become more decentralized with the introduction of a new fault-proof system.
Base took to X on Oct. 23 to announce the upcoming mainnet launch of fault proofs, or mechanisms intended to verify the correctness of transactions, such as the validity of withdrawals.
Source: Base
With fault proofs coming to Base on Oct. 30, users can monitor and challenge invalid withdrawals, which removes the need for a trusted third party, Base said.
Base to launch fault proofs twice as fast as Optimism
To ensure a smooth launch of its fault-proof system, Base has been collaborating with Optimism, another Ethereum L2 involved in fault-proof tech development.
After launching fault proofs on the testnet in October 2023, Optimism implemented fault proofs on the mainnet in June 2024, taking six months to introduce the system on the mainnet.
Permissionless fault proofs diagram by Optimism. Source: Optimism
In Base’s case, the fault-proof mainnet transition is set to take half the time as Optimism’s, as Base launched fault proofs on Base testnet in July 2024.
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With fault proofs activated, users can withdraw assets from L2s like Base or Optimism to the original (layer-1) Ethereum blockchain without relying on any centralized entity. This novelty, however, introduces certain changes to the process of withdrawals.
What’s changing to withdrawals on Base?
Following Base’s fault proofs’ implementation on the mainnet, withdrawals will involve proving and finalizing based on the fault-proof system.
Withdrawals before the upgrade will have to wait for a seven-day challenge period before finalization, while the fault-proof system will prove those taking place during or after the fault-proof upgrade. According to Base, this process usually takes seven days to finalize, but additional delays could occur if challenged.
An excerpt from Base’s fault-proof upgrade post. Source: Base
“Withdrawals on Base that are pending when the upgrade occurs will need to be re-proven,” Base also noted in a post on X.
Base also noted that fault-proof contract upgrades would be completed atomically, meaning all affected L1 contracts will be upgraded in a single transaction. “No action will be required from node operators,” Base added.
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