Coinbase-Backed Base Ditches Optimistic Rollups for $12B Zero-Knowledge Proof Bet
Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network backed by Coinbase and holding around $12 billion in capital, is undergoing a significant overhaul of its security model. The network will now rely on zero-knowledge proofs to secure chain finality, combining them with a trusted execution environment.
This change replaces the multi-day challenge window tied to optimistic rollups with cryptographic finality, reducing the settlement time to one day. Base becomes the largest single Ethereum operator running ZK proofs for finality after mainnet deployment.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has described zk-EVMs as Ethereum's block validation endgame, expecting them to become the dominant proving method between 2027 and 2030. Wilson Cussak, head of Base Chain, stated that the upgrade aims to deepen the network's security and resiliency as activity grows.
The shift also comes after Base co-founder Jesse Pollak publicly rejected accusations of behind-the-scenes price manipulation on the network.