- Coinbase debuts Base App, merging wallet, trading, and social tools on Layer-2 Base.
- New Base App supports USDC payments, mini apps, and creator monetization features.
- Built on Ethereum Layer-2, Base App aims to become a leading all-in-one crypto platform.
Coinbase has launched a new application, the “Base App,” replacing the existing Coinbase Wallet. The app is designed as an “everything app,” combining trading, payments, social media, and messaging. It is built on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer-2 network, which supports fast and low-cost transactions. The launch marks a strategic shift as Coinbase moves from a trading-focused exchange to a broad consumer-facing platform.
The Base App aims to appeal to a broader audience, including users who are not interested in crypto trading. It incorporates various tools such as an integrated wallet, identity verification, and USDC payments through Base Pay. The application will also include support for mini apps and social features, such as messaging and content monetization. These functionalities are intended to encourage daily use and increase on-chain activity.
Base App as a Super-App Foundation
Coinbase’s new Base App mirrors the concept of super apps like WeChat and Alipay, popular in Asia. These platforms integrate payments, messaging, commerce, and other functions within a single interface. By introducing similar capabilities, Coinbase aims to replicate this model in Western markets. The company seeks to become more than a trading platform, expanding into broader financial and digital experiences.
The Base App runs entirely on the Base blockchain, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer-2 solution. Base is known for high-speed settlement and minimal transaction costs, making it suitable for frequent micro-transactions. Coinbase sees Base as essential infrastructure for achieving its long-term product vision. The company is shifting focus from speculation-driven crypto use to practical applications in commerce and social media.
To support the app, Coinbase introduced Base Account, a new identity verification system. It also unveiled Base Pay, a one-click checkout for USDC payments, developed in collaboration with Shopify. These services are key components of the app’s utility and are designed to simplify onboarding and payment experiences. Coinbase is positioning the app to be accessible and familiar to mainstream users.
Partnerships and Future Expansion
Base Pay is already live for tens of thousands of Shopify merchants, according to Shopify’s product manager. Coinbase plans to extend Base Pay to physical retailers by the end of the year, including tap-to-pay capabilities. Users will receive 1% cash back in USDC when using Base Pay in the U.S. later this year. These incentives aim to drive early adoption and encourage transactions using USDC.
Coinbase’s collaboration with Shopify signals growing support for its broader payments ambitions. USDC, issued by Circle, is central to the platform’s financial transactions. Coinbase executives have stated their goal of making USDC the leading global stablecoin. The app and its payment features are key parts of this broader strategy.
Related: Coinbase Acquires Liquifi for Full Token Lifecycle and Compliance
Monetization and Ecosystem Development
Coinbase also intends to support content creators through new monetization tools integrated into the Base App. Users will have options to control their identity and data while receiving rewards for engagement. To encourage usage, Coinbase will fund rewards and waive USDC transaction fees within the app’s chat feature. These moves are part of the company’s goal to build a creator-friendly economic model.
Coinbase is focusing on expanding its ecosystems in the long term. It also promises to encourage the creators and social users by providing them with on-chain rewards and identity capabilities. The Base App is intended to become more than just a crypto wallet, as it will be used daily by many people to perform various digital tasks. The move helps explain Coinbase and its ambitious vision of positioning itself as a key player in the fintech world.
Coinbase is also stepping up the pace of product rollout thanks to positive regulatory movement in the U.S. Recently, the company launched a credit card powered with USDC, partnering with American Express. Additionally, Shopify has enabled USDC payments through Coinbase and Stripe for merchants. Such initiatives align with Coinbase’s aspiration to be the future of digital finance.
