Base token: What It Is, How It Works, and Which Projects Use It

When you hear Base token, the native currency of the Base blockchain, a low-cost Ethereum layer 2 built by Coinbase. Also known as ETH on Base, it enables fast, cheap transactions for apps, tokens, and NFTs without the high fees of Ethereum’s main network. Unlike standalone blockchains, Base doesn’t try to compete with Ethereum — it builds on top of it. That means you get Ethereum’s security but with speeds and costs closer to Web2 apps.

Base token isn’t just a payment method — it’s the fuel for everything on the chain. Developers use it to pay for gas when deploying smart contracts. Users spend it to swap tokens, mint NFTs, or interact with DeFi apps. Even if you don’t hold Base token directly, you’re likely using it when you trade on a DEX like Uniswap on Base or mint an NFT on a platform like OpenSea’s Base version. The chain’s connection to Coinbase gives it real-world weight: millions of Coinbase users can easily move funds to Base without leaving their app.

Base isn’t alone in the layer 2 space. It competes with chains like Polygon, a popular Ethereum scaling solution using sidechain tech and Optimism, an Ethereum layer 2 that uses optimistic rollups for higher security. But Base stands out because it’s backed by a major exchange, not just a team of developers. That means more users, more liquidity, and more tools built in from day one.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of random crypto projects. It’s a snapshot of what happens when a chain like Base becomes popular — and what goes wrong when projects launch without real users or security. You’ll see reviews of exchanges that claim to support Base tokens but have no users, tokens that disappeared after a hype spike, and airdrops that promised free money but delivered nothing. Some of these projects rode the Base wave. Others ignored it completely — and failed because of it. This isn’t about hype. It’s about what actually works when the noise dies down.