Base Introduces B20 Token Standard for Coinbase Tokenized Stocks

base introduced B20, a new token standard built to handle corporate actions natively, on Sept. 18, 2026. The standard addresses dividends, stock splits, and ownership rules — mechanics that Base says most existing token standards were never designed to support.

Coinbase Tokenized Stocks are built on B20, according to the announcement, tying the standard directly to the exchange's tokenized-equity product. Base framed equities as a single use case rather than the standard's sole purpose, positioning B20 as broader infrastructure.

Why corporate actions matter

Tokenized equities must mirror the same events as their underlying shares. A dividend payment, a split, or a change in ownership rights can alter a token's supply, value, or transferability. Standards that don't account for these changes typically require manual intervention or off-chain coordination.

B20's native handling of these mechanics marks Base's latest move into real-world asset infrastructure, following a period of ecosystem expansion across its network.

What to watch: whether other issuers adopt B20 beyond Coinbase Tokenized Stocks, and how the standard approaches compliance and transfer restrictions for regulated securities.