Coinbase’s Base layer-2 network is going solo. On Wednesday, the largest chain in the OP Stack Superchain announced it’s ditching Optimism’s technology in favor of a fully independent codebase called base/base. The move immediately tanked Optimism’s OP token, which fell as much as 20% on the news.
Base has historically generated over 90% of the Superchain’s total revenue, revenue that previously flowed to the Optimism Collective rather than to Coinbase or Base itself. That economic dynamic is now poised to change dramatically.
Previously, Base relied on code from Optimism, Flashbots, and Paradigm spread across multiple repositories. The new unified stack consolidates the sequencer, proofs, and all core infrastructure into a single Base-managed repository.
Base V1, coming soon, will replace Optimism’s optimistic proofs with Base-specific TEE and zero-knowledge proofs. The network will also remove Optimism from its Security Council, replacing it with independent signers. Two additional hard forks are planned, with Base V3 timed around Ethereum’s upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade.
“The mission Base launched with is the same mission we have today: make it the best place to build and onboard the next billion people into the onchain economy,” Base said in its announcement.
“To accelerate innovation, scaling, and security, Base is evolving its foundational software by moving to a unified, Base-operated stack.”
For end users, the transition should be seamless. Node operators will need to migrate to the new base/base releases, but regular users won’t experience disruption.
The timing raises an interesting question. Rumors circulating in the crypto community suggest that Coinbase is planning to launch a BASE token later in 2026. If true, the independence move would be a prerequisite for such a token launch since the network would capture and distribute its own economic value rather than seeing that revenue flow elsewhere.
Base currently holds $3.85 billion in total value locked and dominates layer-2 activity metrics. The shift gives the network direct control over its economic future, a significant structural advantage for a platform planning its own tokenomics.
This restructuring is neutral for end users unless it accelerates BASE token launch plans. For Base, it’s a major win. For Optimism, it’s a loss since the network loses its most productive chain and the revenue associated with it.
Beyond Base’s independence, crypto markets showed modest strength Thursday. Bitcoin traded at $67.4K, up 1% on the day. Solana led major gainers with a 3% increase to $84. Ethereum held steady at $1,950.
The CME Group announced it will launch 24/7 crypto futures and options trading starting May 29, pending regulatory approval. Beginning that afternoon, all CME crypto derivatives will trade continuously with just a two-hour weekly maintenance window over the weekend. Previously, these products traded 23 hours daily on weekdays.
In policy news, the White House held its third meeting focused on stablecoin yield, though discussions showed limited progress. The Senate continued to weigh in, with Senator Elizabeth Warren speaking out against using taxpayer funds to bail out Bitcoin and crypto firms.
Russia announced plans to block its citizens from trading cryptocurrency on overseas exchanges, though enforcement mechanisms remain unclear. Meanwhile, Eric Trump reaffirmed his $1 million Bitcoin price prediction, citing long-term demand and dollar weakness as key drivers.
Meme coin PUNCH exploded 200% to reach a $32 million market cap as the monkey-themed token went viral. Other notable gainers included LOBSTAR, which jumped 60x, and Ailens, which surged 35x.
The DBA Fund announced a $62 million raise for its second crypto fund. USDAi launched Season 2 of its points program, promising an airdrop for rewards holders. A federal judge in Tennessee also blocked state-level enforcement against Kalshi, the prediction markets platform, ruling that sports contracts qualify as financial swaps.
Meanwhile, prediction markets continue to reflect user sentiment on major events. One notable market shows 72% odds that crypto outperforms AI as the more significant bubble, compared to 28% for AI.
Base’s separation from Optimism signals a maturing landscape where successful layer-2 networks seek independence and control over their own futures. It also demonstrates how Coinbase, as the platform’s operator, is positioning Base to maximize its economic value in the coming months.
See also: ARK Invest Sells $17 Million in Coinbase Stock, Buys Bullish Amid Crypto Market Crash
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