Base Ditches Optimistic Rollups for $12B Zero-Knowledge Proof Bet

Base, a Coinbase-incubated Ethereum Layer 2 network holding over $12B in total capital, is making a significant shift to adopt zero-knowledge proofs for securing chain finality. This move replaces the previous multi-day challenge window tied to optimistic rollups with cryptographic finality, cutting settlement times down to one day.

The network will combine a trusted execution environment with ZK proofs to secure chain finality, using Succinct Labs' SP1, an open-source zkVM that produces succinct ZK proofs of arbitrary Rust-based computation. Base's mainnet deployment makes it the largest single Ethereum operator running ZK proofs for finality.

This change lines up with views from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who believes ZK-EVMs will become the dominant proving method between 2027 and 2030. Wilson Cussak, head of Base Chain, explained that the upgrade aims to deepen the network's security and resiliency as activity grows.