Coinbase-built Ethereum Layer 2 says Cobalt will bring protocol-level smart account features, with its native account abstraction push framed around EIP-8130 and aimed at easier dApp use, developer adoption and AI-agent support.
Base is preparing a September 2026 protocol upgrade called Cobalt that would add native account abstraction directly to the Ethereum Layer 2 network, replacing ERC-4337-style middleware with built-in smart account capabilities such as gas sponsorship, transaction batching and session keys. Base has also highlighted the initiative through EIP-8130 as part of a broader push to simplify account management and make decentralized application interactions more efficient. Cobalt follows the Beryl upgrade that went live on June 25, 2026, which introduced the B20 native token standard and reduced ETH withdrawal times to 5 days. Base says developers will need to update nodes and enable new RPC methods, and the upgrade will include a unified node binary combining consensus and execution clients. The company has linked the changes to support for autonomous AI agents and easier user onboarding, while market observers are watching whether the move improves adoption and developer activity. As of mid-July 2026, there had been no significant market reaction or new token announcement tied to Cobalt.