Base (network)
Base is Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network, built on the OP Stack, offering low fees and fast transactions for apps, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets.
Base is a layer 2 blockchain built by Coinbase that settles to Ethereum. Launched in 2023, it is an Ethereum-compatible network designed for low fees and fast confirmation, which makes it a common home for consumer apps, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets where transactions need to be cheap.
Base is built on the OP Stack - the open-source framework behind Optimism - so it behaves like Ethereum to developers and wallets. Contracts written for Ethereum run on Base with little change, and a standard Ethereum wallet can hold Base assets once it is pointed at the Base network. Its native fees are paid in ETH, typically a fraction of a cent to a few cents per transaction.
For RWA products, Base is attractive for practical reasons. Fees are low enough that small-ticket actions - buying a fractional share, receiving a distribution, redeeming a token - stay economical. USDC, the regulated stablecoin from Circle, is native to Base, which makes it straightforward to price and settle deals in dollars on-chain. And its link to Coinbase gives it a well-resourced operator and an easy fiat on-ramp for US users.
Because Base is a layer 2, its security ultimately rests on Ethereum and on Base's own sequencer and bridge operating correctly. It is a newer network than Ethereum's base layer, and its early design has a single sequencer run by Coinbase, with decentralization planned over time.
For an investor, Base is simply the rails a given RWA may run on - what matters for risk is still the asset and its legal structure, not the network.
Source: Base docs (docs.base.org), as of 2026.
Mentioned in
- Which Chains Host the Most RWAs?
Which blockchains host the most RWAs? Ethereum leads by value, with Base, Polygon, and others growing. How the chains compare, and whether it matters to investors.
- Blockchains, Wallets & Stablecoins: A Primer
Crypto wallets explained for beginners: what a blockchain, wallet and stablecoin actually are, and how the three let you hold and move tokenized real assets.
- How to Get USDC (and Keep It Safe)
How to get USDC, step by step: buy it on an exchange, withdraw it to your own wallet on a low-fee network like Base, and keep it safe with a few simple habits.
- How to Set Up Your First Wallet
How to set up a crypto wallet, step by step: pick a wallet, install it, back up your seed phrase safely, and add the Base network - a safe start for beginners.
- What Is a Layer 2? (and Why RWAs Use Base)
What is a layer 2 blockchain? A beginner's guide to how networks like Base make Ethereum faster and cheaper - and why tokenized real-world assets run on them.
Related terms
Educational content, not financial or legal advice.