Coinbase’s Base Forges Own Path, Abandons Optimism Stack Reliance

Coinbase’s layer-2 Base Chain has announced a significant shift today, moving away from Optimism’s OP Stack to a unified, self-operated software framework. This change aims to enhance innovation and minimize dependencies. By bringing all code into a single repository, Base intends to achieve quicker upgrades and simplify protocols.

The transition detailed in a blog post marks a maturation phase, allowing early adoption of Ethereum updates such as Fusaka. Notably, the transition is not expected to disrupt users immediately, positioning Base for robust scaling in the pursuit of widespread crypto adoption.

Base Shifts from Optimism to Independence

Base has created a new system that combines all its dependencies into one place: github.com/base/base. In the past, Base relied on multiple repositories from Optimism, Flashbots, and Paradigm, which led to challenges in maintenance and updates. Now, with a unified codebase built on Reth, the process is much more streamlined.

The change permits a few smaller updates each year, an increase from the previous limit of three. Each update will focus on specific improvements to speed up the process of adding new features. This change also enhances security and decentralization while maintaining cohesion. Base will remain open-source and will continue to be licensed under the MIT license.

The team will continue collaborating with Optimism through OP Enterprise, but believes that pursuing greater independence aligns more closely with Ethereum’s development trajectory. However, the proof systems will shift from optimistic to TEE/ZK, enabling faster finality. Version 2 will roll out with block access lists, while Version 3 will introduce new transaction types. Additionally, support from Glamsterdam is expected to enhance overall performance.

Base’s Continued Strategic Growth

Base, launched on the OP Stack in 2023, allowed for quick deployment and collaboration. However, over time, the introduction of custom features, such as Flashblocks, added complexity, making external coordination increasingly challenging. Now, independence helps solve these issues.

By 2025, the network had achieved Stage 1 decentralization and consistently ranked among the leaders in total value locked (TVL) and user activity. While Optimism generated significant revenue, Base contributed to the ecosystem in a more modest way. This fork is designed to enhance the overall dynamics of the ecosystem.

Base aims to expand rapidly by targeting the next billion users, highlighting the importance of lower costs and faster transaction speeds. While speculations arose in late 2025 about introducing a native token, the current focus remains on achieving technical independence.

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