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Base’s rapid evolution has captured market attention, with its Total Value Locked (TVL) reaching $4 billion and ambitious upgrades poised to redefine the Layer 2 landscape.
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The robust performance is set against Ethereum’s ongoing scalability issues, prompting Base to position itself as a serious competitor in the Layer 2 ecosystem.
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“With a commitment to decentralization and speed, we’re navigating uncharted territory,” noted Jesse Pollak, underscoring the platform’s transformative goals.
Explore how Base’s latest upgrades and soaring TVL are reshaping the Layer 2 narrative in the crypto sector—an insightful look at its ambitious roadmap.
Base’s bold ambition for Layer 2 leadership
Jesse Pollak’s recent post on X outlined a compelling vision for Base’s performance enhancements: aiming for sub-200 millisecond confirmation times, fees reduced to under a cent, and the capacity for 200 transactions per second. This roadmap signifies Base’s dedication to addressing the pressing demands of users while ensuring competitive viability.
Source: X
However, burgeoning speed is merely one facet of Base’s strategy. Pollak has highlighted the project’s stance on neutrality, actively working to mitigate sandwich attacks and providing equitable execution opportunities for developers. Additionally, the infrastructure decentralization will occur in two key phases, aiming to fortify network resilience and security.
When queried about reaching an ambitious target of 1 million transactions per second, Pollak’s succinct “yes” echoed a strong conviction in Base’s potential.
TVL rebounds – but can momentum persist?
Base’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has eclipsed $4 billion for the first time since late 2024, signaling a revival in investor confidence following a prolonged liquidity plateau earlier this year. The notable surge in May hints that recent protocol upgrades and an enhanced focus on decentralization are resonating with the market.
Source: DeFiLlama
Nonetheless, the challenge remains: converting this growing TVL into lasting economic engagement is critical. Without sustained user retention and organic developer involvement, even significant liquidity spikes risk being cyclical in nature rather than representative of robust and durable growth.
Base’s swift rise to prominence in Layer 2
As of May 2025, Base has solidified its status as a key player in the Layer 2 domain, outperforming competitors like Arbitrum (ARB) and Optimism (OP) in both Total Value Locked and daily transaction volumes.
Ethereum has not been idle. Its recent Pectra upgrade has yielded incremental improvements in scalability by enhancing blob output and smart contract wallet functionality. Further, the upcoming Fusaka upgrade promises even more scalability advancements through new technologies like PeerDAS and Verkle Trees, which aim to tackle existing data availability and state size challenges.
In contrast, Base is positioning itself as the frontrunner. With reduced confirmation times, minimized fees, and a commitment to decentralized operations, Base is making a compelling argument for its near-term leadership in the Layer 2 sector.
Conclusion
Base’s journey to a $4 billion TVL marks a significant milestone in the Layer 2 revolution. Its roadmap focuses on speed, low costs, and a decentralized approach—key elements that could redefine user experiences in the crypto space. As the platform navigates the complexities of adoption and retention, it is crucial to monitor whether this momentum translates into sustained, long-term growth in the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
