Base has announced its first independent network upgrade, 'Base Azul', scheduled for activation on the mainnet on May 13. The upgrade aims to enhance security, performance, and developer experience. Key improvements include the activation of a Multiproofs mechanism, combining TEE and ZK proof systems to advance decentralization to 'Stage 2' and potentially reduce withdrawal cycles to one day. Additionally, the upgrade will integrate a performance-oriented client stack, designating base-reth-node as the sole execution client and introducing a new consensus client, base-consensus, based on Kona, to achieve a throughput target of 1 gigagas/s. The upgrade will also adopt Ethereum's latest execution layer specification, Osaka, to optimize developer experience.