Base, the consumer application and self-custodial wallet ecosystem developed by Coinbase, is undergoing a significant strategic shift to a "trading-first" business model. The change was announced on January 14, 2026, by Base creator Jesse Pollak via an X post, citing early user feedback as the primary driver. Since its launch in July 2025, hundreds of thousands of users have engaged with the app for creating, trading, saving, spending, and building on-chain.
Pollak outlined three key themes from user feedback that informed the pivot: users felt the initial social-first focus was too reminiscent of Web2 platforms, there was a strong demand for higher-quality tradable assets, and users wanted the app's feed to provide a comprehensive view of all on-chain activity. In response, Base will now make trading its core operation, aiming to drive demand and distribution for a wide array of on-chain assets, including protocols, applications, stocks, predictions, memes, and creator coins.
The new finance-first user experience will serve as the foundation, with social features like copy-trading, feed-trading, and leaderboards layered on top. Pollak emphasized the goal is for Base App to become "the best app at whatever you do in the onchain economy." Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the direction, stating the app will initially focus on retail investors and traders, broaden its feed to cover a larger range of assets, and offer a multi-chain experience while keeping the Base blockchain as its primary hub.
Concerns were raised about the future of Mini Apps and creator coins within this new trading-centric vision. In response to queries, Pollak reassured the community that Mini Apps, tools for onboarding creators and consumer experiences, remain a core priority. The team is working on improving their discoverability and developing better tooling to track performance, including leaderboards that measure user onboarding impact. Pollak also confirmed that creator coins, including his own $Jesse token, will continue to be supported within the Base economy.
The pivot is seen as an attempt to refine the product based on user needs, though challenges remain. Some developers have criticized Base for previously favoring insiders and meme coins over real utility. The shift aims to address retail demand for integrated finance tools rather than fragmented social experiences, positioning Base to better facilitate capital flow and innovation across the broader on-chain ecosystem.
