Base, the Layer 2 network on Ethereum, is undergoing a significant strategic pivot. Founder Jesse Pollak recently acknowledged that a previous heavy focus on social products was a misstep, leading to setbacks in trading and payments. In response to evolving market dynamics, Base is now concentrating on trading, payments, and AI agents. This shift is aimed at aligning the project with current trends emphasizing utility and efficiency.
As part of this new direction, Base announced the “Request for Builders: Funding the Future of Global Finance” initiative. The program offers seed capital and strategic resources to pre-seed and seed-stage developer teams building onchain financial infrastructure. The fund will prioritize projects in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), stablecoin-powered finance in emerging markets, onchain credit, prediction markets, and commercial applications for AI agents. Teams are invited to submit their proposals directly through the Layer 2 network’s channels.
