With new blockchains appearing every few years, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time. Some are built mainly for speed, others for privacy, and a few for niche use cases. But Base stands out for one clear reason: it’s designed with you in mind.

This article breaks down what the Base blockchain is, why it matters, and how you can get started exploring it whether you’re completely new to web3 or re-entering the crypto space.

Base is a Layer 2 (L2) blockchain built on Ethereum. Being a Layer 2 blockchain, Base is built on top of Ethereum (the mainnet or Layer 1) in order to make onchain transactions faster, cheaper and more efficient.

Notwithstanding the fact that Ethereum was an amazing blockchain, the more it grew in popularity and usage, the more challenges accompanied its growth:

1. High gas fees.

2. Network congestion during peak transaction times.

3. Unfriendly user experience.

And that's where Coinbase, a high-security crypto exchange with millions of users, saw an opportunity to develop a Layer 2 solution that possessed Ethereum’s strengths and tackled its weaknesses.

With Coinbase as its incubator and Jesse Pollak as its lead, Base's vision is to create a solution that enables faster transactions and lower costs, while making crypto more accessible to a wider audience and maintaining Ethereum’s robust security.

Base is positioned as the blockchain for the people. Instead of focusing only on developers or crypto experts, Base is built to make onchain activity accessible to everyone — users, creators, and builders alike.

Base isn’t just cheaper, it’s flexible and supportive.

Testing decentralized applications (dApps) and deploying smart contracts on Base is significantly lower than Ethereum. This lets developers work on their projects without worrying about incurring huge costs.

Base is seamlessly integrated with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This integration allows developers to migrate their Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) to Base without needing to rewrite code or smart contracts.

Being the blockchain for the people, Base lowers the barrier for being able to build and ship great products onchain. With grants and incentives, Base supports individuals who build and contribute to its ecosystem.

Base inherits its security protocols from the Ethereum mainnet, ensuring that all transactions processed on its network are secure. It uses Optimistic Rollups to process transactions off-chain, and then sends a summary back to Ethereum for final verification.

Additionally, Base uses fraud detection proofs within the Rollup system, allowing anyone who suspects that a transaction was processed incorrectly on Base to submit proof to Ethereum, which guarantees a valid outcome before the transaction is finalised on the mainnet.

Using Base means interacting with dApps that feel faster and cheaper without sacrificing the reliability of Ethereum’s ecosystem.

As a Layer 2 blockchain using Optimistic Rollups, Base processes transactions off the Ethereum mainnet. This significantly reduces the gas fees for users, making decentralized applications (dApps) more accessible and affordable, especially for frequent transactions like in gaming or DeFi.

Features like Account Abstraction allow for user-friendly interactions, such as gasless transactions (where a dApp pays the fee for the user) and social login/passkey security (eliminating the need for complex seed phrases).

Base's goal is to bring the next billion users onchain. This mission drives its focus on giving developers tools for building consumer-first apps, games, and social platforms that are as easy to use as regular internet applications.

Base is building a strong creator ecosystem by directly addressing the financial and technical roadblocks that plagued creators on Ethereum and Web2 platforms. With platforms like Zora and Farcaster that allow creators to earn from their content every time it's transacted or engaged with, Base allows creators to monetize their work without technical hurdles.

Base uses Optimistic Rollups to process transactions off-chain before submitting them to the Ethereum mainnet for finalisation. This allows for faster, more cost-effective transactions on Base, as it takes the computational load off Ethereum.

Because Base’s architecture processes transactions off-chain before finalizing them on Ethereum, developers and users enjoy reduced gas fees while having full access to Ethereum’s robust infrastructure. This approach positions Base as a solution for developers looking to build high-performance, secure blockchain applications.

Starting on a new blockchain can feel daunting, but Base, as an Ethereum Layer 2, has a very beginner-friendly entry point.

The most beginner-friendly first step a complete newbie to the Base blockchain can take is setting up a compatible wallet, so you can view and transact on Base.

1. Install a non-custodial wallet from Play Store or App Store.

A wallet is your digital identity and bank account on Base. It allows you to hold the necessary crypto and interact with all dApps.

Base app (formerly Coinbase Wallet) is the official wallet to use on Base.

1. Familiarise yourself with the Base app interface.

After setting up the app, don't just rush into making transactions right away. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the app.

1. Make your first transaction on Base.

After your Base app has been set up and your wallet has been created, the next thing to do is buy a small amount of crypto. This gets your wallet ready to make further transactions on the Base blockchain.

Since Base is a Layer 2 on Ethereum, all transactions use ETH. When you bridge (or transfer) ETH from Ethereum to Base, your ETH is locked on the Ethereum mainnet, and an equal amount of ETH (often called “Base-ETH”) becomes available on Base for use in transactions.

This video gives a visual walk-through of the steps listed here from downloading the Base app to buying your first crypto.

Although the instructor uses App Store, the process is still the same if you install from Play Store:

Other than serving as a wallet, the Base app also doubles as a social network for the Base ecosystem.

Currently, some social features of the app are still in beta phase and require an invite to access. But once it's out of beta, it will be available for all. Till then, you can join the waitlist.

If it hasn't already been established enough throughout this guide, Base is a blockchain for everyone.

So, whether you're a developer, a creator, or a user, here's how you can get started building and earning crypto in the Base ecosystem:

• Get a Basename.

A Basename is your onchain identity, kind of like your web3 X handle. It aims to simplify blockchain use for developers and users by providing human-readable names (e.g. nessa.base.eth) that can also double as crypto wallet addresses.

Here's how you can get a Basename:

1. Go to the Basenames website.

1. Search for the name you want. If the name is unavailable, the site recommends similar alternatives for you.

2. Once you find a name you like, select the duration you want to hold the name for and whether you want to set it as your primary name.

3. A pop-up showing the amount to pay will then be displayed, as claiming a Basename requires fee.

1. Click Register Name and sign the transactions to register your Basename.

You can read more about Basenames from the Basenames FAQs.

• Join a Based community.

Follow Base West Africa and join the Base West Africa Telegram channel to meet other like minds. It's a very active community!

• Download the Base app (formerly Coinbase Wallet).

The Base app is much more than a self-custody wallet for your crypto. It's evolving into an all-in-one platform for storing crypto, trading, posting, and chatting in the Base ecosystem — although most of these features are currently in beta.

• Join Farcaster

Farcaster is a centralised social network similar to X and Reddit, built on Ethereum.

It has quickly become one of the best places to engage with the onchain community, earn as a creator and launch mini apps as a developer.

• Use Zora to earn as a creator.

Zora is a creator-heavy decentralised social network similar to Instagram and TikTok, built on Base.

It allows creators to turn their posts into unique, tradable tokens called content coins, thereby letting them monetise their content directly.

• Build on Base as a developer.

Check out the Base Builder page to see ways you can contribute to the ecosystem as a developer.

Also check out @buildonbase on X to see more projects you can learn from or contribute to, like Base Batches, Base's periodic buildathon for existing and intending founders.

The Base ecosystem is still young, but it’s growing fast.

Whether you're experimenting, creating, building a project, or simply curious about what the crypto space is really about, there's a place for you on Base.

Start small, stay consistent, and grow with the community, because on Base, everyone is a builder.

With new blockchains appearing every few years, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time. Some are built mainly for speed, others for privacy, and a few for niche use cases. But Base stands out for one clear reason: it’s designed with you in mind.

This article breaks down what the Base blockchain is, why it matters, and how you can get started exploring it whether you’re completely new to web3 or re-entering the crypto space.

Base is a Layer 2 (L2) blockchain built on Ethereum. Being a Layer 2 blockchain, Base is built on top of Ethereum (the mainnet or Layer 1) in order to make onchain transactions faster, cheaper and more efficient.

Notwithstanding the fact that Ethereum was an amazing blockchain, the more it grew in popularity and usage, the more challenges accompanied its growth:

1. High gas fees.

2. Network congestion during peak transaction times.

3. Unfriendly user experience.

And that's where Coinbase, a high-security crypto exchange with millions of users, saw an opportunity to develop a Layer 2 solution that possessed Ethereum’s strengths and tackled its weaknesses.

With Coinbase as its incubator and Jesse Pollak as its lead, Base's vision is to create a solution that enables faster transactions and lower costs, while making crypto more accessible to a wider audience and maintaining Ethereum’s robust security.

Base is positioned as the blockchain for the people. Instead of focusing only on developers or crypto experts, Base is built to make onchain activity accessible to everyone — users, creators, and builders alike.

Base isn’t just cheaper, it’s flexible and supportive.

Testing decentralized applications (dApps) and deploying smart contracts on Base is significantly lower than Ethereum. This lets developers work on their projects without worrying about incurring huge costs.

Base is seamlessly integrated with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This integration allows developers to migrate their Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) to Base without needing to rewrite code or smart contracts.

Being the blockchain for the people, Base lowers the barrier for being able to build and ship great products onchain. With grants and incentives, Base supports individuals who build and contribute to its ecosystem.

Base inherits its security protocols from the Ethereum mainnet, ensuring that all transactions processed on its network are secure. It uses Optimistic Rollups to process transactions off-chain, and then sends a summary back to Ethereum for final verification.

Additionally, Base uses fraud detection proofs within the Rollup system, allowing anyone who suspects that a transaction was processed incorrectly on Base to submit proof to Ethereum, which guarantees a valid outcome before the transaction is finalised on the mainnet.

Using Base means interacting with dApps that feel faster and cheaper without sacrificing the reliability of Ethereum’s ecosystem.

As a Layer 2 blockchain using Optimistic Rollups, Base processes transactions off the Ethereum mainnet. This significantly reduces the gas fees for users, making decentralized applications (dApps) more accessible and affordable, especially for frequent transactions like in gaming or DeFi.

Features like Account Abstraction allow for user-friendly interactions, such as gasless transactions (where a dApp pays the fee for the user) and social login/passkey security (eliminating the need for complex seed phrases).

Base's goal is to bring the next billion users onchain. This mission drives its focus on giving developers tools for building consumer-first apps, games, and social platforms that are as easy to use as regular internet applications.

Base is building a strong creator ecosystem by directly addressing the financial and technical roadblocks that plagued creators on Ethereum and Web2 platforms. With platforms like Zora and Farcaster that allow creators to earn from their content every time it's transacted or engaged with, Base allows creators to monetize their work without technical hurdles.

Base uses Optimistic Rollups to process transactions off-chain before submitting them to the Ethereum mainnet for finalisation. This allows for faster, more cost-effective transactions on Base, as it takes the computational load off Ethereum.

Because Base’s architecture processes transactions off-chain before finalizing them on Ethereum, developers and users enjoy reduced gas fees while having full access to Ethereum’s robust infrastructure. This approach positions Base as a solution for developers looking to build high-performance, secure blockchain applications.

Starting on a new blockchain can feel daunting, but Base, as an Ethereum Layer 2, has a very beginner-friendly entry point.

The most beginner-friendly first step a complete newbie to the Base blockchain can take is setting up a compatible wallet, so you can view and transact on Base.

1. Install a non-custodial wallet from Play Store or App Store.

A wallet is your digital identity and bank account on Base. It allows you to hold the necessary crypto and interact with all dApps.

Base app (formerly Coinbase Wallet) is the official wallet to use on Base.

1. Familiarise yourself with the Base app interface.

After setting up the app, don't just rush into making transactions right away. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the app.

1. Make your first transaction on Base.

After your Base app has been set up and your wallet has been created, the next thing to do is buy a small amount of crypto. This gets your wallet ready to make further transactions on the Base blockchain.

Since Base is a Layer 2 on Ethereum, all transactions use ETH. When you bridge (or transfer) ETH from Ethereum to Base, your ETH is locked on the Ethereum mainnet, and an equal amount of ETH (often called “Base-ETH”) becomes available on Base for use in transactions.

This video gives a visual walk-through of the steps listed here from downloading the Base app to buying your first crypto.

Although the instructor uses App Store, the process is still the same if you install from Play Store:

Other than serving as a wallet, the Base app also doubles as a social network for the Base ecosystem.

Currently, some social features of the app are still in beta phase and require an invite to access. But once it's out of beta, it will be available for all. Till then, you can join the waitlist.

If it hasn't already been established enough throughout this guide, Base is a blockchain for everyone.

So, whether you're a developer, a creator, or a user, here's how you can get started building and earning crypto in the Base ecosystem:

• Get a Basename.

A Basename is your onchain identity, kind of like your web3 X handle. It aims to simplify blockchain use for developers and users by providing human-readable names (e.g. nessa.base.eth) that can also double as crypto wallet addresses.

Here's how you can get a Basename:

1. Go to the Basenames website.

1. Search for the name you want. If the name is unavailable, the site recommends similar alternatives for you.

2. Once you find a name you like, select the duration you want to hold the name for and whether you want to set it as your primary name.

3. A pop-up showing the amount to pay will then be displayed, as claiming a Basename requires fee.

1. Click Register Name and sign the transactions to register your Basename.

You can read more about Basenames from the Basenames FAQs.

• Join a Based community.

Follow Base West Africa and join the Base West Africa Telegram channel to meet other like minds. It's a very active community!

• Download the Base app (formerly Coinbase Wallet).

The Base app is much more than a self-custody wallet for your crypto. It's evolving into an all-in-one platform for storing crypto, trading, posting, and chatting in the Base ecosystem — although most of these features are currently in beta.

• Join Farcaster

Farcaster is a centralised social network similar to X and Reddit, built on Ethereum.

It has quickly become one of the best places to engage with the onchain community, earn as a creator and launch mini apps as a developer.

• Use Zora to earn as a creator.

Zora is a creator-heavy decentralised social network similar to Instagram and TikTok, built on Base.

It allows creators to turn their posts into unique, tradable tokens called content coins, thereby letting them monetise their content directly.

• Build on Base as a developer.

Check out the Base Builder page to see ways you can contribute to the ecosystem as a developer.

Also check out @buildonbase on X to see more projects you can learn from or contribute to, like Base Batches, Base's periodic buildathon for existing and intending founders.

The Base ecosystem is still young, but it’s growing fast.

Whether you're experimenting, creating, building a project, or simply curious about what the crypto space is really about, there's a place for you on Base.

Start small, stay consistent, and grow with the community, because on Base, everyone is a builder.