Key Highlights
- Base is moving from the OP Stack to a single, unified software stack called base/base.
- Node operators will need to follow Base releases instead of Optimism’s and prepare for upcoming hard forks.
- Node operators will need to follow Base releases instead of Optimism’s and prepare for upcoming hard forks.
Base, the Layer-2 blockchain incubated by Coinbase for Ethereum, announced it is moving away from using the OP Stack and other tools from partners like Flashbots and Paradigm.
Instead, the network will use a single, unified system called base/base, which Base will run and manage itself. The change is designed to make upgrades faster, strengthen security, and make the network easier to maintain.
According to the official announcement, this transition will affect node operators, who will need to follow new Base client releases instead of Optimism’s software to stay compatible with upcoming hard forks.
Simplifying the software stack
The Base team explained that its current system has code spread across many teams and different repositories, which makes it harder to manage.
“Today, the code operating various components of Base, such as the sequencer, is owned by multiple teams and spread across multiple repositories, which adds coordination and maintenance overhead,” the team said.
The new system will combine everything into one place and use open-source tools like Reth. This will make the network easier to update and allow the developers to focus on what Base specifically needs. The team added, “This unification does not mean Base will be built in isolation. The protocol remains public and specified in the open, and alternative implementations are welcome and encouraged.”
Base also announced governance changes as part of this update. Optimism’s role on the Security Council will be replaced by an additional independent signer. The network will remain a Stage 1 decentralized rollup, following Vitalik Buterin’s classification for Layer-2 decentralization.
Base emphasized that the change will not compromise security, stating it is committed to maintaining the highest standards for rollup safety while allowing the system to scale more effectively.
Changes in governance and security
As part of the transition, Base announced that Optimism’s spot on the security council will be replaced by an additional independent signer. The network will still be a Stage 1 decentralized rollup, following Vitalik Buterin’s guidelines for Layer-2 decentralization.
Base said this move will not lower security. Instead, it will help the network grow while keeping it safe and decentralized.
Upcoming hard forks and upgrades
Base outlined some upgrades for the coming months. According to the team, the V1 hard fork will add Fusaka support and switch from Optimistic proofs to Base-specific TEE and zero-knowledge proofs, which makes transactions faster and more secure.
In addition, two more hard forks will reduce Base’s reliance on Optimism. The V3 hard fork will line up with Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgrade. Node operators will need to use the new Base client for future updates, but old RPCs, including those in the optimism namespace, will still work, so apps do not break.
The team said the main goal is to make Base faster and simpler. The unified system will allow smaller, more frequent updates, and developers can work more easily without dealing with many outside tools.
Base will still work with Optimism as an OP Enterprise client during the transition, and users and developers should not notice changes in how they use the network.
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