Chapter · Master Base
The big picture
Let us zoom out. Base is a Layer 2 rollup built by Coinbase on the OP Stack, part of the Superchain. It batches transactions and settles them to Ethereum, so it inherits strong security while charging tiny fees. You pay gas in ETH, and there is no native Base token today. A single sequencer keeps it fast for now, with decentralization on the roadmap. Blobs made fees even cheaper. Bridges move funds in and out, with a wait on the way out. That is the whole machine in one breath.
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What this lesson covers
You made it
Nice work. You now understand what Base is, why Layer 2s exist, how rollups and the OP Stack work, why gas is paid in ETH, how bridging and the sequencer function, how blobs cut fees, and where the real risks live. That is a solid mental model of one of the busiest networks in crypto. Keep the same habits everywhere: define the jargon, start small, verify before you trust, and stay curious. 🐜
What you get asked
Which summary of Base is accurate?
Base is a Layer 2 rollup built by Coinbase. It settles to Ethereum for security and uses ETH for gas, with no native token today.
Order how a Base transaction reaches final safety.
Your transaction is ordered by the sequencer, bundled into a batch, and posted to Ethereum, which is where final security comes from.
Match each Base fact to its detail.
Base uses the OP Stack, charges gas in ETH, settles to Ethereum for security, and relies on a sequencer to order transactions.
What is the most honest takeaway about Base?
Base delivers cheap, fast transactions backed by Ethereum. It also has tradeoffs like a single sequencer and bridge risk, so use it with care.
The rest of this chapter
Learn how Base works as Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2, from rollups and the OP Stack to gas in ETH, bridging, the sequencer, and staying safe.