BASE reached $10 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL) in November 2025, cementing its position as the second-largest Ethereum Layer 2 network. But raw numbers only scratch the surface of what's happening.

In July 2025, BASE achieved 3.5 million daily active users—more than double its closest rival and a historic record among Layer 2s. The network regularly processes up to 160 transactions per second, supporting nearly 360 million transactions monthly. To put this in perspective: BASE accounts for over 53% of all crypto transactions globally.

This isn't just growth. It's momentum.

The developer story reveals the real transformation. BASE leads all Ethereum Layer 2 networks with 4,287 active developers, and over 25,000 active builders are creating applications and protocols on the platform.

What's driving this influx? Three factors stand out:

Infrastructure that works. Built on the OP Stack (Optimism's proven rollup technology), BASE inherits Ethereum's security while delivering transactions in under 2 seconds at a fraction of the cost. Some Layer 2 platforms saw a 99% reduction in median transaction fees after Ethereum's Dencun upgrade, including BASE.

Real support for builders. Unlike many blockchain platforms, BASE backs developers with clear documentation, responsive Discord support, and direct access to Coinbase's infrastructure. BASE onboarded over 1,600 developers within its first year of launch—a testament to its builder-first approach.

Economic viability. When transaction costs drop from dollars to cents, entirely new business models become possible. Microtransactions, NFT minting for mass markets, and social applications that were economically impossible on Ethereum Layer 1 now thrive on BASE.

BASE's ecosystem diversity signals maturity beyond typical Layer 2 growth patterns.

Friend.tech demonstrated that consumer social applications could generate massive on-chain activity—the SocialFi platform saw innovations in blockchain-based social networks. Aerodrome Finance has become the dominant decentralised exchange, processing billions in trading volume monthly. Creative platforms like Zora migrated to BASE specifically because reduced costs made minting accessible to everyday creators.

Stablecoin transactions on Layer 2 increased by 54% year-over-year, led by Optimism and BASE. This matters because stablecoins represent real economic activity—payments, remittances, and everyday transactions rather than speculation.

BASE's relationship with Coinbase creates a unique onboarding funnel. With 110 million Coinbase users globally, BASE has direct access to mainstream crypto adoption at scale. The integration means users can move from centralised exchange to decentralised applications seamlessly—a bridge most Layer 2s can't offer.

Yet BASE maintains credible decentralisation through its OP Stack foundation. Regulatory focus increased on Layer 2 data availability and bridging risks with 50+ new guidelines proposed globally in 2025, and BASE is positioned to meet these standards while maintaining its open architecture.

Consider what $0.05 transaction fees enable:

A Nigerian developer can deploy a DeFi application for less than the cost of a coffee. An artist in Indonesia can mint 100 NFTs for what one Ethereum transaction used to cost. A gaming platform can process millions of in-game asset transfers without bankrupting its users.

These aren't hypothetical scenarios. Over 70% of Layer 2 payments in 2025 were made with stablecoins instead of ETH, indicating real utility beyond crypto-native use cases.

Cumulative Layer 2 TVL reached $39.39 billion for the 12 months up to November 2025 across all L2s combined. Arbitrum leads Layer 2 networks with $16.63 billion TVL as of November 2025, while Optimism has secured $6 billion TVL.

BASE's rapid ascent to $10 billion TVL—achieved faster than any previous Layer 2—demonstrates that latecomer advantage exists in crypto when execution is sharp. The network benefits from lessons learned by predecessors while leveraging Coinbase's distribution and brand trust.

No technology story is complete without acknowledging obstacles. Sequencer centralisation concerns emerged, with 30% of Layer 2 projects actively working on decentralisation protocols. BASE currently operates with Coinbase-controlled sequencers, though decentralisation roadmaps are in development.

Some industry experts are concerned that Layer 2s are "cannibalistic" for Ethereum mainnet revenue and may impact Ether's price potential. While valid, this concern assumes a zero-sum game rather than recognising how accessibility drives total ecosystem value.

The broader blockchain developer market also shows signs of maturation. Monthly active blockchain developers dropped about 7% from 25,419 in 2023 to 23,615 in 2024, suggesting the industry is transitioning from expansion to consolidation—though Ethereum attracted over 16,000 new developers between January and September 2025, more than any other blockchain.

BASE has set ambitious targets: the network aims for $100 billion TVL and 1 billion total transactions by October 2025. Given current growth trajectories, these aren't moonshots—they're extrapolations.

The real question isn't whether BASE will hit specific metrics. It's whether the network can maintain its velocity while maturing into critical infrastructure. Early indicators are promising: BASE's TVL growth rate has averaged 15% month-over-month according to verified blockchain trackers.

"Base is for Everyone" started as branding. It's becoming a reality.

When a student in Lagos can deploy smart contracts for pocket change, when creators anywhere can monetise digital work without prohibitive fees, when millions of transactions happen daily at speeds rivalling Web2—that's not incremental improvement. That's fundamental change.

BASE isn't just another Layer 2. It's proof that blockchain infrastructure can deliver on its accessibility promises when design, execution, and distribution align.

The next wave of blockchain adoption won't be driven by ideology or speculation. It'll be driven by builders who can create economically viable applications because the underlying costs finally make sense. BASE is where that's happening now.

As BASE grows, so does the importance of protecting your assets and interactions on the network. Here are essential security guidelines:

Wallet Security Fundamentals

• Never share your seed phrase or private keys—legitimate projects will never ask for them

• Use hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) for significant holdings rather than browser extensions

• Enable all available security features: 2FA on Coinbase, biometric authentication where possible

• Verify contract addresses on official sources before interacting with any dApp

Smart Contract Interactions

• Always check if contracts are verified on Basescan before using them

• Review token approvals regularly using tools like Revoke.cash to limit unnecessary permissions

• Start with small test transactions when trying new protocols

• Be cautious of projects promising unrealistic returns—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Bridge Safety

• Only use official BASE bridge (bridge.base.org) or reputable alternatives like Coinbase

• Double-check destination addresses before bridging assets

• Be aware that bridge transactions can take 7 days for withdrawals due to the optimistic rollup challenge period

• Never click bridge links from social media DMs or unverified sources

Common Threats to Avoid

• Phishing sites that mimic legitimate BASE platforms—always verify URLs

• Discord/Telegram scams promising airdrops or support (official teams never DM first)

• Fake tokens with similar names to legitimate projects

• Approval scams, where malicious contracts drain approved tokens

Due Diligence Checklist Before using any BASE protocol, verify: audited smart contracts, active community engagement, transparent team information, realistic tokenomics, and an established track record. Projects like Aerodrome Finance and Zora demonstrate these qualities.

The low fees on BASE make experimentation affordable, but never experiment with funds you can't afford to lose. Security in crypto is about consistent habits, not one-time actions.

By zcodebase | December 1, 2025

BASE reached $10 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL) in November 2025, cementing its position as the second-largest Ethereum Layer 2 network. But raw numbers only scratch the surface of what's happening.

In July 2025, BASE achieved 3.5 million daily active users—more than double its closest rival and a historic record among Layer 2s. The network regularly processes up to 160 transactions per second, supporting nearly 360 million transactions monthly. To put this in perspective: BASE accounts for over 53% of all crypto transactions globally.

This isn't just growth. It's momentum.

The developer story reveals the real transformation. BASE leads all Ethereum Layer 2 networks with 4,287 active developers, and over 25,000 active builders are creating applications and protocols on the platform.

What's driving this influx? Three factors stand out:

Infrastructure that works. Built on the OP Stack (Optimism's proven rollup technology), BASE inherits Ethereum's security while delivering transactions in under 2 seconds at a fraction of the cost. Some Layer 2 platforms saw a 99% reduction in median transaction fees after Ethereum's Dencun upgrade, including BASE.

Real support for builders. Unlike many blockchain platforms, BASE backs developers with clear documentation, responsive Discord support, and direct access to Coinbase's infrastructure. BASE onboarded over 1,600 developers within its first year of launch—a testament to its builder-first approach.

Economic viability. When transaction costs drop from dollars to cents, entirely new business models become possible. Microtransactions, NFT minting for mass markets, and social applications that were economically impossible on Ethereum Layer 1 now thrive on BASE.

BASE's ecosystem diversity signals maturity beyond typical Layer 2 growth patterns.

Friend.tech demonstrated that consumer social applications could generate massive on-chain activity—the SocialFi platform saw innovations in blockchain-based social networks. Aerodrome Finance has become the dominant decentralised exchange, processing billions in trading volume monthly. Creative platforms like Zora migrated to BASE specifically because reduced costs made minting accessible to everyday creators.

Stablecoin transactions on Layer 2 increased by 54% year-over-year, led by Optimism and BASE. This matters because stablecoins represent real economic activity—payments, remittances, and everyday transactions rather than speculation.

BASE's relationship with Coinbase creates a unique onboarding funnel. With 110 million Coinbase users globally, BASE has direct access to mainstream crypto adoption at scale. The integration means users can move from centralised exchange to decentralised applications seamlessly—a bridge most Layer 2s can't offer.

Yet BASE maintains credible decentralisation through its OP Stack foundation. Regulatory focus increased on Layer 2 data availability and bridging risks with 50+ new guidelines proposed globally in 2025, and BASE is positioned to meet these standards while maintaining its open architecture.

Consider what $0.05 transaction fees enable:

A Nigerian developer can deploy a DeFi application for less than the cost of a coffee. An artist in Indonesia can mint 100 NFTs for what one Ethereum transaction used to cost. A gaming platform can process millions of in-game asset transfers without bankrupting its users.

These aren't hypothetical scenarios. Over 70% of Layer 2 payments in 2025 were made with stablecoins instead of ETH, indicating real utility beyond crypto-native use cases.

Cumulative Layer 2 TVL reached $39.39 billion for the 12 months up to November 2025 across all L2s combined. Arbitrum leads Layer 2 networks with $16.63 billion TVL as of November 2025, while Optimism has secured $6 billion TVL.

BASE's rapid ascent to $10 billion TVL—achieved faster than any previous Layer 2—demonstrates that latecomer advantage exists in crypto when execution is sharp. The network benefits from lessons learned by predecessors while leveraging Coinbase's distribution and brand trust.

No technology story is complete without acknowledging obstacles. Sequencer centralisation concerns emerged, with 30% of Layer 2 projects actively working on decentralisation protocols. BASE currently operates with Coinbase-controlled sequencers, though decentralisation roadmaps are in development.

Some industry experts are concerned that Layer 2s are "cannibalistic" for Ethereum mainnet revenue and may impact Ether's price potential. While valid, this concern assumes a zero-sum game rather than recognising how accessibility drives total ecosystem value.

The broader blockchain developer market also shows signs of maturation. Monthly active blockchain developers dropped about 7% from 25,419 in 2023 to 23,615 in 2024, suggesting the industry is transitioning from expansion to consolidation—though Ethereum attracted over 16,000 new developers between January and September 2025, more than any other blockchain.

BASE has set ambitious targets: the network aims for $100 billion TVL and 1 billion total transactions by October 2025. Given current growth trajectories, these aren't moonshots—they're extrapolations.

The real question isn't whether BASE will hit specific metrics. It's whether the network can maintain its velocity while maturing into critical infrastructure. Early indicators are promising: BASE's TVL growth rate has averaged 15% month-over-month according to verified blockchain trackers.

"Base is for Everyone" started as branding. It's becoming a reality.

When a student in Lagos can deploy smart contracts for pocket change, when creators anywhere can monetise digital work without prohibitive fees, when millions of transactions happen daily at speeds rivalling Web2—that's not incremental improvement. That's fundamental change.

BASE isn't just another Layer 2. It's proof that blockchain infrastructure can deliver on its accessibility promises when design, execution, and distribution align.

The next wave of blockchain adoption won't be driven by ideology or speculation. It'll be driven by builders who can create economically viable applications because the underlying costs finally make sense. BASE is where that's happening now.

As BASE grows, so does the importance of protecting your assets and interactions on the network. Here are essential security guidelines:

Wallet Security Fundamentals

• Never share your seed phrase or private keys—legitimate projects will never ask for them

• Use hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) for significant holdings rather than browser extensions

• Enable all available security features: 2FA on Coinbase, biometric authentication where possible

• Verify contract addresses on official sources before interacting with any dApp

Smart Contract Interactions

• Always check if contracts are verified on Basescan before using them

• Review token approvals regularly using tools like Revoke.cash to limit unnecessary permissions

• Start with small test transactions when trying new protocols

• Be cautious of projects promising unrealistic returns—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Bridge Safety

• Only use official BASE bridge (bridge.base.org) or reputable alternatives like Coinbase

• Double-check destination addresses before bridging assets

• Be aware that bridge transactions can take 7 days for withdrawals due to the optimistic rollup challenge period

• Never click bridge links from social media DMs or unverified sources

Common Threats to Avoid

• Phishing sites that mimic legitimate BASE platforms—always verify URLs

• Discord/Telegram scams promising airdrops or support (official teams never DM first)

• Fake tokens with similar names to legitimate projects

• Approval scams, where malicious contracts drain approved tokens

Due Diligence Checklist Before using any BASE protocol, verify: audited smart contracts, active community engagement, transparent team information, realistic tokenomics, and an established track record. Projects like Aerodrome Finance and Zora demonstrate these qualities.

The low fees on BASE make experimentation affordable, but never experiment with funds you can't afford to lose. Security in crypto is about consistent habits, not one-time actions.

By zcodebase | December 1, 2025