Base Network, the Ethereum Layer 2 backed by Coinbase, will implement major upgrades to improve performance.

Jesse Pollak, the network's lead developer, announced the changes on X on May 24, 2025.

Coinbase-backed Ethereum Layer 2 Base is planning major upgrades to improve performance and keep pace with surging demand.

The network’s lead developer Jesse Pollak announced the changes on X on May 24, 2025.

Pollak said the goal is to reduce confirmation times to 200 milliseconds and keep transaction fees under $0.01. The network also aims to handle over 200 transactions per second in the near term.

These upgrades respond to increased developer and user activity on Base Layer 2.

Base Flashblocks to Launch by Summer 2025

A key part of the Base upgrade is Flashblocks, a system designed to introduce “preconfirmation blocks” for nearly instant transaction feedback.

Testing of Flashblocks is ongoing, and Coinbase Base plans to deploy them on mainnet by summer 2025.

The team is also working to increase Base gas throughput. Capacity is expected to rise from 25 million gas per second (Mgas/s) to 50 Mgas/s by Q2 2025, and reach 250 Mgas/s by year-end.

According to Pollak, this increase would enable the network to support more activity without encountering higher costs or slower speeds.

Base Protocol Logic Moves to Ethereum Layer 1

As part of decentralization efforts, Base Network will be shifting core protocol functions to Ethereum Layer 1.

Pollak confirmed that this includes state transition logic, which will be handled via smart contracts.

This change allows developers and validators outside Coinbase to participate in shaping how Base Layer 2 evolves. Development is in progress, with deployments planned in stages.

The Base upgrade aims to match the performance of chains like Solana and Sui blockchain, known for their low fees and high throughput.

The upgrade also centers around maintaining Ethereum-level security while offering better transaction handling compared to chains like Solana or Sui.

Coinbase Base expects that infrastructure enhancements rolled out across 2025 will improve scalability and network responsiveness. Key milestones include the rollout of Flashblocks, expanded gas throughput, and smart contract-based protocol logic.