TLDR
- Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network, is moving away from Optimism’s OP Stack to run its own technology stack.
- The OP token dropped 4% in the 24 hours following the announcement.
- Base has $3.85 billion in total value locked and was launched in August 2023.
- Base says it will still work with Optimism during the transition and remain compatible with OP Stack standards.
- The move aims to let Base ship upgrades faster, targeting around six major upgrades per year.
Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network, Base, has announced it is stepping back from Optimism’s OP Stack — the technology it was originally built on. The news sent the OP token down 4% in the following 24 hours.
NOW: Coinbase’s @base is stepping back from relying on Optimism’s OP Stack in a significant technical pivot.
Base plans to consolidate into a Base-managed codebase instead of depending on outside teams for upgrades. pic.twitter.com/zhbs9hzgnL
— Laura Shin (@laurashin) February 18, 2026
Base launched in August 2023 and grew quickly into one of the most-used Ethereum layer-2 networks. It currently holds $3.85 billion in total value locked (TVL).
In a blog post called “The Next Chapter for Base,” the Base team said it plans to take direct control of its own codebase and infrastructure. The goal is to reduce reliance on outside teams for upgrades.
By managing its own stack, Base says it can ship upgrades faster. The team is targeting roughly six major upgrades per year, which would be about double its current pace.
The move is largely technical for now. Users and developers should not see any immediate changes to how the network operates.
What Happens to the Optimism Relationship?
Base said it is not cutting ties with Optimism entirely. The network will stay compatible with OP Stack standards during the transition and continue working with Optimism for support.
“We’re grateful for our three-year partnership with Base, and proud to have helped it become one of the most successful Layer 2 deployments in history,” an OP Labs spokesperson told CoinDesk.
OP Labs added that it will continue to serve Base as an “OP Enterprise customer” while Base builds out its independent infrastructure.
When Base launched, it was agreed that Base could earn up to 118 million OP tokens over six years. It is currently unclear what the new arrangement means for that deal.
What Base Plans to Build
The transition will happen in phases. Base plans to first adopt fault-tolerant systems before moving toward full independence from the OP Stack.
Future upgrades are expected to include zero-knowledge proofs and improved data availability layers.
Base said the protocol will remain public and open. “Alternative implementations are welcome and encouraged,” the team wrote.
The network has faced some challenges recently, including developer complaints and platform migrations like Zora moving to Solana.
The OP token was trading down 4% in the 24 hours after the announcement was made on February 18, 2026.
