Base Abandons Optimistic Rollups for Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution backed by Coinbase and holding around $12 billion in total capital, is making a significant shift in its security model. The network will now use zero-knowledge proofs to secure chain finality, combining a trusted execution environment with ZK proofs. This change replaces the multi-day challenge window tied to optimistic rollups with cryptographic finality, cutting the path to one-day settlement.

The new architecture is powered by Succinct Labs' SP1, an open-source zkVM that produces succinct ZK proofs of arbitrary Rust-based computation. After mainnet deployment, Base will become the largest single Ethereum operator running ZK proofs for finality.

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has expressed his support for this shift, describing zk-EVMs as Ethereum's block validation endgame. He predicts that they will become the dominant proving method between 2027 and 2030.