Base: what the network is and how to reach it
Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 built by Coinbase on Optimism's OP Stack. It runs as a rollup: transaction data is posted to Ethereum, and the chain has been open to everyone since 9 August 2023.
What this network is
You pay gas in ETH, and every transaction carries two costs: an L2 execution fee and an L1 security fee. Base currently operates with a single active sequencer run by Coinbase.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Stack | Ethereum L2 built on Optimism's OP Stack Source → |
| Open to everyone since | 9 August 2023 Source → |
| Chain ID | 8453 (mainnet), 84532 (Base Sepolia) Source → |
| Gas | ETH Source → |
| Fee model | L2 execution fee + L1 security fee; the L1 part is usually the larger one Source → |
| Sequencer | Single active sequencer (Coinbase); anyone can challenge invalid state transitions via fault proofs Source → |
| Native token | None as of the check date. Coinbase said in September 2025 it is exploring a network token, with "no definitive plans" Source → |
Verified on 11.09.2026
Getting in and out
Base is a permissionless network: any EVM wallet can hold and send assets on it. The practical question is how to get funds there. Users of Coinbase withdraw directly to Base; everyone else withdraws from an exchange that supports the Base network, or bridges from Ethereum.
| Coin | Exchange | Network on the exchange | Fee | Minimum | Withdrawals | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETH | MEXC | BASE | 0.0000013 | 0.003 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | OKX | BASE | 0.0000026 | 0.002 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | BingX | BASE | 0.000004 | 0.00197 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | Gate.io | BASEEVM | 0.00001989 | 0.002 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | Bitget | BASE | 0.000039 | 0.003891 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | Binance | BASE | 0.00005 | 0.002 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | KuCoin | BASE | 0.0001 | 0.0002 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | Bybit | BASE | 0.0003 | 0.0003 | Open | Withdraw |
| ETH | HTX | BASE | 0.001 | 0.005 | Closed | Withdraw |
| USDC | BingX | BASE | 0.027 | 4.999551 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | Gate.io | BASEEVM | 0.05 | 0.01 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | Bitget | BASE | 0.099981 | 9.998 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | MEXC | BASE | 0.1 | 1 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | Binance | BASE | 0.2 | 3 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | Bybit | BASE | 0.5 | 0.5 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | KuCoin | BASE | 0.5 | 1 | Open | Withdraw |
| USDC | HTX | BASE | 2.6 | 0.5 | Open | Withdraw |
Coinbase does not list Russia among supported countries; for readers in Russia the working route is an exchange with Base withdrawals enabled. The table below shows live withdrawal fees and whether the route is open right now.
Fees are what exchanges report through their APIs and change without notice. A closed route today is not a verdict — check the date next to the table.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Wallets
Base is a standard EVM chain, so any Ethereum wallet works unchanged. If your wallet does not list Base, add it manually with the parameters below.
We do not recommend a specific wallet and have no partner links here. Check the RPC and chain ID against docs.base.org before sending funds.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Bridges
The bridge that used to live at bridge.base.org has been deprecated. Base's documentation now points to third-party routes for moving assets from Ethereum, Solana and Bitcoin, plus direct withdrawals from Coinbase.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Official bridge | "The bridge previously at bridge.base.org has been deprecated" Source → |
| Base–Solana bridge | Bidirectional transfers between Base and Solana, listed in Base docs Source → |
| Bitcoin → Base | Garden: BTC to cbBTC on Base Source → |
| Coinbase direct withdrawal | Not a bridge technically: assets are sent straight to the Base network Source → |
Third-party bridges are independent services; Base docs explicitly disclaim responsibility for them. Compare the bridge fee with an exchange withdrawal in the table above before choosing.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Stablecoins
Base has native USDC issued by Circle. The older bridged version, USDbC, is a legacy token: Circle does not issue or redeem it, and liquidity has moved to native USDC.
When withdrawing from an exchange, make sure the destination is native USDC (the contract above), not USDbC. Yields on stablecoins are shown on the separate page linked below and are never guaranteed.
Verified on 11.09.2026
Where to go next
What happens on the network
There is no Base token. Coinbase has said it is exploring one and has published no rules, dates or eligibility criteria. Everything you read about "farming a Base airdrop" is speculation built on that single statement.
What people actually do on Base — use apps, trade on DEXes, hold and move USDC, post on Farcaster — is useful on its own terms. Do it because you want the result, not because a reward is implied. Every transaction costs gas and carries smart-contract risk.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Official position | September 2025: Base is "beginning to explore" a network token; Brian Armstrong — "there are no definitive plans" Source → |
We do not publish "airdrop checklists" and do not track eligibility. If a token is ever announced, this block will link to the official rules and nothing else.
Verified on 11.09.2026