Coinbase Base App Shifts Focus to Multichain Client

Coinbase rebranded its consumer wallet as the Base App in July 2025, shifting from a narrow focus on Base to a multichain client that integrates trading, payments, and mini-apps. The move aims to reduce chain lock-in at the app layer, grow users, and increase on-chain commerce.

The Base App now supports multichain access for trading, payments, and mini-apps, allowing users to transact across various networks without complex wallet gymnastics. This design change has sparked questions about whether a less Base-centric approach will lead to more growth or dilute the platform's focus.

On-chain evidence suggests mixed results: while Base posts heavy activity and a payments-centric liquidity base, a large share of its capital is bridged rather than native. DeFiLlama reports Total Value Locked around $4.65 billion, with 262,505 active addresses in 24 hours and approximately 11.07 million daily transactions.

The multichain push mirrors Uniswap's strategy, which has deployed across dozens of networks while maintaining meaningful liquidity on Base. This precedent suggests the Base App can scale without being Base-exclusive, but also underscores that multichain distribution grows reach and competition at the same time.