Base Surpasses Rivals with $4B Locked and Rapid Growth

The Essentials at a Glance
Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 solution, has announced a significant upgrade. The goal is to make transactions faster and cheaper while decentralizing the infrastructure. With a Total Value Locked (TVL) of over USD 4 billion, Base is approaching its 2024 peak levels. The platform is increasingly positioning itself as a serious competitor to Ethereum and other Layer 2 projects like Arbitrum and Optimism.
Base Focuses on Speed, Cost Reduction, and Decentralization
Base is pursuing a clear strategy: transaction confirmations should take less than 200 milliseconds, and fees should remain under one cent. At the same time, the network aims to process 200 transactions per second (TPS). These technical improvements are intended not only to enhance user experience but also to attract developers.
Another focus is on decentralization. In two phases, Base plans to distribute key components of its infrastructure across multiple independent operators. The goal is to prevent manipulations such as so-called sandwich attacks and to create a neutral execution environment for smart contracts.
TVL Is Rising – But How Sustainable Is the Growth?
In May 2025, Base surpassed a TVL of USD 4 billion for the first time since December 2024. This increase indicates growing investor confidence. At the beginning of the year, liquidity had stagnated – a sign of market uncertainty.
However, whether the growth will last in the long term depends on more than just short-term capital inflows. The key will be whether Base can retain developers and build an active user base. Without these factors, the current upswing could prove to be only temporary.
Base Compared to Ethereum and Other Layer 2s
Base has quickly become one of the leading Layer 2 networks. In terms of TVL and daily transaction volume, it now surpasses Arbitrum and Optimism. While Ethereum remains technologically active – most recently with the Pectra upgrade, which brought minor improvements in scalability and wallet usability – Base is moving faster and more aggressively.
You should read that too:
-
Asian Slots – The Best Asia-Themed Online Slot Games
Reading time: ~ 3 minutes
-
Wild West Slots – The Best Slots With a Western Theme
Reading time: ~ 3 minutes
-
Low Volatility Slots
Reading time: ~ 3 minutes
-
Medium Volatility Slots
Reading time: ~ 3 minutes
-
Best Cluster Pay Slots & Casinos 2025
Reading time: ~ 3 minutes
While Ethereum is focusing on long-term developments like PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling) and Verkle Trees, Base is already scoring points with low fees and short confirmation times. This gives the platform a competitive edge in attracting users and developers.
Our Assessment
Base is proving to be more than just another Layer 2 project. The combination of technical advancement, decentralization strategy, and growing capital inflow makes the platform a serious player in the Ethereum ecosystem. The key will be whether Base can convert its current momentum into sustainable usage.
For you as a user or developer, it’s worth keeping an eye on Base. The platform offers attractive conditions – both in terms of cost and speed. If the planned decentralization is successfully implemented, Base could play a central role in the next phase of blockchain development.