Base App: Coinbase’s All-in-One Web3 Crypto Platform

Coinbase has officially announced a comprehensive repositioning of its Base ecosystem, elevating the platform far beyond its original role as an Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution. The highlight of this overhaul is the renaming of Coinbase Wallet to “Base App” — a Web3 super app that combines finance, communication, social networking, mini apps, and USDC payments in a single unified interface.

“Base is no longer just a blockchain. It’s a full-stack Web3 infrastructure for users and developers,” said Coinbase.

1. What’s New in “Base 2.0”?

•  - Coinbase Wallet → Base App: a wallet transformed into a Web3 super app

•  - Integration with Farcaster (social) and XMTP (chat): enabling messaging, content sharing, and tap-to-pay USDC transfers

•  - Mini apps in-feed: users can discover and use apps directly within the Base App interface

•  - Base Chain upgrade: block time reduced from 2 seconds to 200 milliseconds for faster performance

•  - Introduction of Base Account: a smart wallet with cross-chain identity and seamless sign-in across dApps

•  - Launch of Base Pay: instant USDC payments, zero fees, and 1% cashback for U.S. customers via Shopify integrations

2. Strategic Direction

Coinbase is positioning Base as a consumer-focused Web3 ecosystem, aiming to serve the mainstream user — much like how Apple built the App Store. It’s no longer a standalone product but a multi-functional Web3 platform, enabling users to access dApps, send crypto, chat, and earn rewards, all from a single app.

Existing users of Coinbase Wallet will be automatically upgraded to Base App within the next few hours.