Base Abandons Optimistic Rollups for $12B Bet on Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Base, a Coinbase-incubated Ethereum Layer 2 holding around $12 billion in total capital, is revamping its security model to adopt zero-knowledge proofs. The network will combine a trusted execution environment with ZK proofs to secure chain finality.

The change replaces the multi-day challenge window tied to optimistic rollups with cryptographic finality, cutting the path to one-day settlement. This shift aligns with views from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who has described zk-EVMs as Ethereum's block validation endgame.

Wilson Cussak, head of Base Chain, said the upgrade is meant to deepen the network's security and resiliency as activity grows. The team will use Succinct Labs' SP1, an open-source zkVM that produces succinct ZK proofs of arbitrary Rust-based computation.