diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7463de3e6f7e..ab6df2173f53 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ Ref: https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/
 * (tx) [#15992](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/15992) Add `WithExtensionOptions` in tx Factory to allow `SetExtensionOptions` with given extension options.
 * (types/simulation) [#16074](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/16074) Add generic SimulationStoreDecoder for modules using collections.
 * (cli) [#16209](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/16209) Make `StartCmd` more customizable.
+* (types) [#16257](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/16257) Allow setting the base denom in the denom registry.
 
 ### Improvements
 
diff --git a/types/denom.go b/types/denom.go
index 0b9389286bea..c87a150f5988 100644
--- a/types/denom.go
+++ b/types/denom.go
@@ -47,6 +47,17 @@ func GetDenomUnit(denom string) (Dec, bool) {
 	return unit, true
 }
 
+// SetBaseDenom allow overwritting the base denom
+// if the denom has registered before, otherwise return error
+func SetBaseDenom(denom string) error {
+	_, ok := denomUnits[denom]
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("denom %s not registered", denom)
+	}
+	baseDenom = denom
+	return nil
+}
+
 // GetBaseDenom returns the denom of smallest unit registered
 func GetBaseDenom() (string, error) {
 	if baseDenom == "" {
diff --git a/types/denom_internal_test.go b/types/denom_internal_test.go
index 67227bdd4d5e..bb76d80fb9a2 100644
--- a/types/denom_internal_test.go
+++ b/types/denom_internal_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ func (s *internalDenomTestSuite) TestRegisterDenom() {
 	s.Require().False(ok)
 	s.Require().Equal(math.LegacyZeroDec(), res)
 
+	err := SetBaseDenom(atom)
+	s.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	res, ok = GetDenomUnit(atom)
+	s.Require().True(ok)
+	s.Require().Equal(atomUnit, res)
+
 	// reset registration
 	baseDenom = ""
 	denomUnits = map[string]Dec{}
@@ -192,3 +199,12 @@ func (s *internalDenomTestSuite) TestDecOperationOrder() {
 	baseDenom = ""
 	denomUnits = map[string]Dec{}
 }
+
+func (s *internalDenomTestSuite) TestSetBaseDenomError() {
+	err := SetBaseDenom(atom)
+	s.Require().Error(err)
+
+	// reset registration
+	baseDenom = ""
+	denomUnits = map[string]Dec{}
+}