What is Base? Introducing the New Layer 2 Blockchain
Coinbase, one of the world's leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has recently unveiled Base, a layer two blockchain built using the OP Stack on top of Ethereum. Base was created as a platform for Coinbase to bring its business on-chain, reflecting the company's belief that the world is moving in this direction. As part of Coinbase's mission to increase economic freedom globally, Base aims to bring a billion people and a million builders into the on-chain ecosystem.
Base is not technically differentiated from other OP Stack chains. In fact, the standardized stack used for the rollup is intended to facilitate interoperability between OP Stack chains, aligning with the superchain vision laid out by Optimism. Builders should find parity between Base and other OP Stack chains, with minor configuration differences such as higher gas targets on Base.
What sets Base apart is its thriving and welcoming community for all types of builders, including smart contract developers, artists, and community builders. The proximity to Coinbase also differentiates Base, as the exchange brings its business on-chain, potentially offering network effects for social apps, DeFi apps, and more.
The activity on Base spans various sectors, including DeFi, social, and gaming, with an element of fun and optimistic, collaborative energy among builders. Notable projects on Base include Airdrome, Morpho, Moonwell, and Blackbird, a restaurant loyalty program leveraging the blockchain.
Welcoming Developers of All Stages
Base aims to be a welcoming and accessible platform for developers at all stages, particularly those new to on-chain development or software development in general. The team is creating educational content to help curious individuals get started with on-chain development, making Base a great starting point for those looking to explore this field.
Rewarding Builders through Retroactive Public Goods Funding
Builders on Base are primarily rewarded through the retroactive public goods funding from Optimism. As a member of the Optimism Collective, Base builders are eligible for these rewards. In the last wave, over $50 million in OP tokens were distributed to Base builders, with the next wave expected to be even larger. While Base does not offer upfront grants or investments, the retroactive funding model encourages builders to share their work and potentially receive rewards if it meets the criteria set by Optimism.
Getting Started on Base
For those ready to start building on Base, it's recommended to visit docs.base.org and join the Discord community to connect with other builders and ask questions. The Base team encourages developers to share their projects, no matter how small, on the Base Builds channel on Forecaster. Additionally, a weekly community voting-led reward of 2 ETH is spread across selected Base builders to maintain the energy and momentum of the ecosystem.
To begin developing on Base, you can follow this guide on deploying a smart contract to Base. You'll need to connect to the Base network, which you can do using the network information available on the thirdweb Chainlist.
Conclusion
As Coinbase continues to bring its business on-chain through Base, this Layer 2 blockchain is poised to play a significant role in the company's mission to increase economic freedom and foster a thriving on-chain ecosystem. With its welcoming community, educational resources, and potential for network effects, Base offers a unique opportunity for developers, artists, and community builders to explore and contribute to the growing world of on-chain applications.
thirdweb's full-stack web3 development kit makes it easy to build on Base:
✦ Frontend: Client-side SDKs to connect users to web3
✦ Backend: Scalable contract APIs backed by secure wallets
✦ Onchain: Pre-built & extendable contracts
✦ Gaming SDKs: Unity, Unreal Engine, and Mobile (React Native)