Abstract The SuperKEKB collider will undergo a major upgrade to reach the target luminosity of 6 × 10 35 cm -2 s -1 during the long shutdown (LS2) foreseen to start around year 2027. We are developing a new vertex detector (VTX) to replace the current one (VXD). This new pixel silicon tracker aims to be both more robust against the higher level of machine background and more performant in terms of precision on the decay vertices and standalone track finding efficiency. The baseline layout consists of two layers composing the inner part (iVTX) and three outer layers (oVTX), all arranged in a barrel-shaped geometry, with minimal material budget. All layers will be equipped with dedicated depleted monolithic active CMOS pixel sensors (DMAPS) named OBELIX, designed in the TowerJazz 180 nm technology. This paper will review all the aspects of the project: the detector specifications and the baseline design, the expected improved performance, the OBELIX features and its design status, including the tests of the forerunner chip TJ-Monopix2, and the fabrication and tests for the iVTX and oVTX ladder prototypes.