Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network backed by Coinbase, is gearing up for major upgrades to enhance speed, affordability, and decentralization.
The lead developer of Base, Jesse Pollak, recently unveiled the network’s comprehensive upgrade roadmap on X on May 24.
Base Aims to Compete with Leading Chains like Solana and Sui
Pollak outlined that the forthcoming improvements are designed to scale Base in response to the increasing demand from users and developers.
The primary objectives include reducing transaction confirmation times to a lightning-fast 200 milliseconds and maintaining network fees below $0.01 consistently.
These milestones are part of a larger strategy to process more than 200 transactions per second in the immediate future, with a long-term goal of achieving 1 million transactions per second.
Furthermore, Pollak emphasized the network’s transition towards a more decentralized structure. This transition involves migrating crucial components of the protocol, such as the base state transition logic, directly onto Ethereum’s Layer 1 through smart contracts.
This shift will enable multiple independent developers and validators to play a pivotal role in shaping the network’s evolution.
Base is currently undergoing various infrastructure upgrades to support these enhancements and establish itself as the most scalable and user-friendly Ethereum Layer 2 network.
One key element of the upgrade is the implementation of Flashblocks, a system that facilitates near-instant “preconfirmation blocks” to offer users a smoother and faster experience. Testnet trials are already underway, with the mainnet rollout expected by summer 2025.
Additionally, the Coinbase-backed network is aiming to boost its gas throughput capacity. Base plans to increase its current gas throughput from 25 million gas per second (Mgas/s) to 50 Mgas/s in Q2, with a long-term target of reaching 250 Mgas/s by the year’s end, representing a 100-fold capacity enhancement.
Pollak believes that these upgrades will significantly enhance Base’s speed and efficiency, potentially positioning the network as a formidable competitor to leading chains like Solana and Sui.