The Ethereum layer-2 scaling network Base, developed under the auspices of publicly traded crypto exchange Coinbase, announced significant changes to its technology framework on Wednesday. The network plans to adopt a new unified tech stack designed to expedite upgrades and cut operational overhead.
This shift signifies Base’s departure from the Optimism technology stack, known as the OP Stack, which also supports various layer-2 networks including Worldcoin’s World network and Unichain, the scaling solution for decentralized exchange Uniswap.
Wilson Cusack, Head of Product at Base, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming changes on social media platform X, stating that the evolution of their technical roadmap will focus on an original specification, code, and infrastructure. The company aims to enhance its ability to implement protocol improvements more frequently, with an ambitious goal of reaching a scaling capacity of 1 billion gas units per second. This target, described as the network’s “north star,” represents a substantial increase from the previous performance metrics highlighted in a roadmap update from February.
To support these advancements, Base is setting a target of executing six network hard forks annually, which is double its existing frequency. The ongoing fragmentation of code across multiple teams and repositories has created maintenance challenges, as noted in the Base developer blog.
The newly proposed unified solution, referred to as base/base, leverages open-sourced components such as Reth, aiming to significantly simplify the architecture by optimizing it for specific use cases.
While no immediate action is required from Base node operators or developers, they will need to transition to the Base client over the coming months to ensure compatibility. The anticipated changes are expected to enhance the network’s decentralization and scalability.
In a parallel development, Coinbase has recently launched a new wallet designed for AI agents, featuring built-in protective mechanisms. This latest update comes on the heels of Coinbase’s fourth-quarter earnings report, where the firm expressed intentions to increase transaction throughput on the network by 2026.
Last year, both Coinbase representatives and Base officials confirmed the exploration of a native token for the network, with market cap projections ranging between $12 billion and $34 billion. Currently, Base holds the title of the highest layer-2 network in terms of bridged total value locked, comprising approximately 32% of the total value of the layer-1 network Solana.
In financial markets, shares of Coinbase saw a slight decline of about 1% on Wednesday, trading around $164. The stock has faced significant losses, down nearly 49% over the past six months.
