How to buy NFTs on the Base network? (Coinbase L2 guide)

Setting Up a Wallet Compatible with Base

1. Users must install a Web3 wallet that supports Ethereum Layer 2 networks, such as MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet.

2. After installation, the wallet needs to be configured manually to connect to the Base network by adding its RPC details: Network Name “Base”, RPC URL “https://mainnet.base.org”, Chain ID “8453”, Currency Symbol “ETH”, and Block Explorer URL “https://basescan.org”.

3. Wallets pre-integrated with Base—like Coinbase Wallet—may auto-detect the network upon first use, eliminating manual configuration.

4. Users should verify connectivity by checking if their ETH balance appears correctly and if transaction history reflects Base-native activity.

5. It is critical to store recovery phrases offline and never share private keys—even during wallet setup or NFT purchase flows.

Funding Your Base Wallet with ETH

1. ETH must be deposited onto Base before purchasing any NFT; transferring ETH from Ethereum mainnet incurs a cross-layer bridge fee and takes approximately 1–2 minutes.

2. Coinbase users can deposit ETH directly into their Coinbase Wallet via the “Send” function, selecting Base as the destination network—no external bridge required.

3. Third-party bridges like the official Base Bridge or Optimism’s Superchain Bridge support ETH transfers but require signature confirmations and gas estimation.

4. Gas fees on Base are significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet, often under $0.02 per transaction, making micro-transactions viable for low-cost NFT acquisition.

5. Users should avoid sending tokens other than ETH or approved Base-native tokens (e.g., USDC.e) until wallet compatibility and contract verification are confirmed.

Navigating Base-Specific NFT Marketplaces

1. Blur Base and Zora are currently the most actively used marketplaces for NFT trading on Base, each supporting native token listings and on-chain order books.

2. Users must connect their configured wallet to the marketplace interface using the “Connect Wallet” button, ensuring the active network selector shows “Base”.

3. Listings display collection names, floor prices in ETH, item rarity traits, and verified contract addresses—always cross-check contract addresses against those published on Zora or BaseScan.

4. Offers can be placed directly without auction timers on certain collections, enabling instant purchases if the seller has set a fixed price.

5. Transaction confirmations appear in the wallet UI with real-time status updates; failed transactions do not deduct ETH but consume minimal gas.

Executing an NFT Purchase and Verifying Ownership

1. Upon selecting an NFT, users click “Buy Now” and review the final ETH amount, including marketplace service fee (typically 2.5%) and Base gas cost.

2. The wallet prompts a signature request—this is not a fund transfer yet, only authorization to execute the smart contract call.

3. Once signed, the transaction propagates through Base’s sequencer and is included in the next available batch; average confirmation time is under 10 seconds.

4. After confirmation, the NFT appears in the wallet’s collectibles tab and is queryable on basescan.org using the transaction hash.

5. Ownership is recorded on-chain at the token level (ERC-721 or ERC-1155), and no centralized platform holds custody—users control full private key access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use Wrapped ETH (WETH) to buy NFTs on Base?A: No. Base does not natively wrap ETH. All purchases must be made with native ETH. Attempting to approve WETH contracts will fail or result in lost funds.

Q: Are Base NFTs compatible with Ethereum mainnet wallets?A: Yes—wallets like MetaMask display Base NFTs when the Base network is active. However, they cannot be transferred to Ethereum mainnet without a dedicated bridge supporting NFTs, which currently does not exist for most collections.

Q: Why does my NFT not show up immediately after purchase?A: Delays may occur due to wallet cache lag. Refreshing the collectibles view or manually triggering “Detect New Tokens” resolves this. BaseScan verification remains the definitive source of truth.

Q: Do I need to pay royalties to creators when buying secondary NFTs on Base?A: Royalty enforcement depends on the marketplace implementation. Zora enforces optional creator fees on secondary sales; Blur Base does not enforce them by default. Check the listing page for visible royalty indicators labeled Royalty: Enabled.