Base Ditches Optimism Infrastructure for Independent Tech Stack

Base, an Ethereum layer 2 network backed by Coinbase, has moved to its own independent tech stack. This change reduces Base's reliance on external dependencies, including Optimism's OP Stack infrastructure that powered the blockchain since its August 2023 launch. The transition involves consolidating previously distributed codebase elements into a single repository built on open-source components, including Reth. Node operators will need to migrate from Optimism releases to Base's client software to remain compatible with future network upgrades. This change aims to increase Base's hard fork schedule from three to six per year. The Base Security Council is adding an independent signer to replace Optimism's position.

Base maintains Stage 1 decentralization status under Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin's rollup classification system and will continue purchasing support from Optimism through its OP Enterprise program.

The blockchain's roadmap includes transitioning from optimistic to TEE/ZK proofs in an upcoming hard fork, with subsequent releases planned to implement Ethereum's Fusaka and Glamsterdam upgrades. Base will maintain compatibility with OP Stack specifications during the transition period and continue supporting existing RPC endpoints including those in the Optimism namespace.