Coinbase Launches “Base” Mobile App as Direct-to-Consumer Gateway into Web3
LOS ANGELES — US cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has rebranded its existing wallet application as “Base” and unveiled it as an “everything app” that integrates wallet functions with social media, payments, and decentralized P2P applications on its new Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain network.
The Base application was announced on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, during Coinbase’s “A New Day One” global developer conference held in Los Angeles.
“Coinbase Wallet is now the Base app, evolving from a wallet into an everything app that brings together social, apps, chat, payments, and trading,” the company detailed in a blog post.
Key Features & Integration
Head of Product for Base, John Granata, described Base as designed with four core user journeys: a social network powered by Farcaster; discovery and usage of on-chain applications (referred to internally as “mini apps”); secure encrypted chat functionality; and integrated trading/cashiering capabilities.
The App offers:
- Open Social Network: Leveraging Farcaster protocol to enable creators ownership over content and direct monetization without minimum follower thresholds or reliance on brand deals.
- In-App Trading: Direct buying, selling and swapping of supported cryptocurrencies within the social interface.
- Base Pay: Utilizing NFC for contactless payments via Circle’s US Dollar-Coin (USDC), facilitating instant transfers.
Hundreds of “mini apps” are set to launch, including those focused on gamification, yield farming, and prediction markets. An enhanced chat feature incorporates end-to-end encryption and AI-driven trading assistants, providing holistic on-chain ecosystem services. A “Sign-in with Base” authentication protocol allows users to log into other applications using their Base credentials.
Hello from @baseapp
Coinbase Wallet is now much more than a wallet. Your new home to create, earn, trade, discover apps, and chat with friends all in one place. pic.twitter.com/LICIDJwvEE
– Base app (@baseapp), July 16, 2025
Entering the Super App Arena
Coinbase’s Base joins an increasingly crowded field of “super apps” that offer multiple services via a single platform. Current examples include Meta’s ecosystem, Twitter (X), and widely successful mobile platforms like WeChat and Grab.
Base creator Jesse Pollack framed the launch as a “new day one” for the Base brand during a conference appearance, posting the first tokenized message from the Base app on the platform itself.
“Coinbase is building Base differently than we’ve ever built any product here and thinking about an open developer ecosystem from day one,” Base creator Jesse Pollack said Wednesday at the event featuring a lineup of celebrity appearances including late musician David Berman.
This launch positions Coinbase beyond its established trading platform, representing a bid to capture the elusive mobile wallet first-party payment data crucial for Web2 platforms aiming for user stickiness. The Base Pay NFC functionality points towards ambitions to compete for dominance in this space.
Meanwhile, mounting competitor Binance also announced on Wednesday it is planning “something very interesting,” suggesting the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem is undergoing accelerated product innovation consolidation cycles.
Base Blockchain Development
With Base built as a separate Layer-2 Ethereum network, its development appears intentionally decoupled from the core Coinbase business moniker. The network’s separate entity status may offer more flexibility for development.
