Coinbase Unveils Base App To Combine Crypto, Commerce And Social Into One Super App
Coinbase has taken a bold step towards reshaping the future of crypto interaction with the launch of its newly rebranded Base App, a direct evolution of the Coinbase Wallet.
The platform blends trading, social media, messaging, mini-apps and payments into a single interface — all connected to Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2 network, Base.
Beyond Trading: Aiming For A Broader Onchain Economy
Unlike the traditional wallet’s focus on crypto storage and swaps, Base App positions itself as a consumer-first gateway to a much broader digital economy.
The app was introduced during the company’s “A New Day One” event, where Coinbase laid out its three-pronged Base strategy: Base Chain (infrastructure), Base Build (developer tools), and Base App (the consumer-facing layer).
Coinbase’s product evolution reflects its goal of attracting users who aren’t necessarily crypto-savvy traders.
The app is designed to mimic super apps like WeChat by offering everything from token swaps and content monetisation to real-time payments and chat — without ever leaving the app.
A Real-Time Feed Powered By Farcaster, Zora And XMTP
One of the app’s standout features is its social feed, built on the Farcaster protocol.
Users can create posts that are tokenised via Zora, turning content into onchain assets.
Each post is tradable, and creators receive earnings from direct tips, purchases, and a reward system based on community engagement.
Messaging is encrypted using XMTP and supports media sharing, payments, and even the use of AI agents like Bankr and Mamo to assist with transactions and financial planning — all within the chat window.
Smart Wallet And Tap-To-Pay For Seamless Interaction
Upon signing up, every user receives a Base Account, a smart wallet that functions across decentralised applications and chains.
It handles identity, payments and logins — and will also power Sign in with Base, Coinbase’s universal login system for dApps.
Payments are streamlined with Base Pay, an express USDC checkout feature developed in partnership with Shopify.
The system stores a user’s credentials, enabling one-tap payments online.
Shopify product manager Alex Danco said the service has already gone live for tens of thousands of merchants, with full rollout expected by year-end.
Tap-to-pay support will extend to physical retail locations, and Coinbase plans to offer 1% cashback on Base Pay USDC purchases in the U.S. later this year.
Mini-Apps, Markets And USDC Yield Add Everyday Utility
The Base App also includes a library of embedded mini-apps — from games to prediction markets — offering users a more dynamic experience than simply trading.
Real-time feeds allow users to view friends’ token swaps live, while built-in USDC yield (up to 4.1% APY) encourages users to hold and use their stablecoins within the app.
Transactions within chat are gas-free for now, a move Coinbase says will help drive adoption.
However, access to creator rewards is currently restricted to certain regions, excluding the EU and Canada.
Backing The Ecosystem With New Hires And AI Partnerships
The Base push comes at a time when Coinbase is expanding its infrastructure and partnerships.
The company has onboarded the team behind decentralised options protocol Opyn to strengthen its derivatives offering.
It also announced a new partnership with Perplexity AI, aiming to deliver real-time crypto search insights.
Coinbase’s Base blockchain has already attracted attention from institutional players.
In June, JPMorgan revealed plans to launch a deposit token on Base, citing its speed and affordability — payments settle in under a second for less than a cent.
Super App Or Super Bet?
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has made his ambition clear by making Coinbase “the number one financial services app in the world” in the next five to ten years.
The company is chasing a long-held fintech vision that has eluded even the likes of Meta and X — the Western equivalent of an all-in-one super app.
Whether Coinbase can lead that charge remains uncertain.
But what’s clear is the company is no longer building just for crypto traders.
It’s building a network, a lifestyle, and a digital economy.
If successful, Base App could become the first real bridge between the decentralised web and everyday life.
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