Coinbase’s layer-2 blockchain Base is exploring the launch of a native token to enhance decentralization and create new opportunities for builders and creators, as announced at BaseCamp 2025.
Base, an Ethereum layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase, processes transactions off-chain before settling them on the main Ethereum chain. Launched in 2023, it has rapidly grown to become the most widely used Ethereum layer-2 solution, boasting approximately 20.8 million monthly active addresses over the past 12 months, according to data from Token Terminal.
Jesse Pollak, Base’s creator, shared the update during the event, emphasizing that the initiative is still in its early stages. “We’re in the early phases of our exploration, and don’t have any specifics to share around timing, design, or governance,” Base stated in an official announcement on Monday.
This development contrasts with Pollak’s comments from November 2024, when he publicly indicated no plans for a native token. In an X thread, Pollak praised projects like Hyperliquid for prioritizing product development over token incentives, writing, “We are focused on building. And we want to solve real problems that let you build better.”
A Base spokesperson explained the change as a natural progression. “Initially, considering launching a token wasn’t a priority for us, because we felt we needed to focus on the core product first,” the spokesperson told Cointelegraph. “Now that we’ve achieved sub-second, sub-cent transactions and expanded into an open stack, we’re exploring a network token to further decentralize and make the ecosystem more open, accessible, and community-driven.”
The spokesperson added that the token could enable broader participation in Base’s on-chain economy, aligning with the network’s goal of inclusivity. “Base is for everyone, and a network token could help more people take part in Base’s onchain economy.”
In addition to the token exploration, Pollak unveiled an open-source bridge connecting Base to Solana. This interoperability feature allows users to transfer assets seamlessly between the two chains and provides developers access to Solana’s liquidity pool. Pollak described Base as a “bridge, not an island,” underscoring the importance of connectivity. “For a better global economy to work, we need it to be interoperable and connected.”
These announcements position Base as a key player in expanding the Ethereum ecosystem’s reach, fostering greater decentralization and cross-chain collaboration in the blockchain space.
