Coinbase’s Base Faces Developer Backlash Over Zora-Centric Creator Economy Strategy

Coinbase's ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution, Base, is encountering significant pushback from its developer community following its aggressive strategic pivot toward the creator economy through its partnership with Zora. While this move has yielded measurable success—with daily token creation on Base briefly surpassing Solana's figures during the summer of 2025—it has come at the cost of alienating a segment of its core developer base. The controversy centers on the perception that Base is providing preferential treatment and resources to creator-centric projects, such as those facilitated by the NFT platform Zora, at the expense of other developers building diverse decentralized applications (dApps) on the network. The backlash was publicly crystallized by Jacek, the founder of the popular Degen token project, who voiced a sentiment shared by many in the community. In a pointed critique, he highlighted the frustration of developers who feel sidelined, stating, "We can't get..."—a remark that underscores the growing tension between Base's corporate strategy and the ecosystem's need for balanced, inclusive growth. This situation presents a critical challenge for Coinbase as it seeks to scale Base's adoption. The platform must navigate the delicate balance between pursuing high-growth verticals like creator coins and NFTs, which have demonstrated clear traction, and maintaining a healthy, diverse, and supportive environment for all builders on its chain. The outcome of this tension will significantly influence Base's long-term viability as a developer-friendly L2 and its position in the competitive Layer-2 landscape headed into 2026.

Base's Zora-Centric Strategy Sparks Developer Backlash

Base's aggressive push into creator coins via its Zora partnership has yielded measurable success—daily token creation briefly eclipsed Solana's this summer—but at a cost. The Ethereum L2 now faces mounting criticism from developers who feel sidelined by what they perceive as preferential treatment for creator economy projects.

Jacek, founder of the Degen token project, crystallized the frustration in a public rebuke: "We can't get the official Base X account to follow us, let alone acknowledge launches." His comments underscore a growing divide between Base's marquee initiatives and the grassroots projects that helped build its early ecosystem.

The tensions coincide with questions about creator coins' sustainability. December's high-profile token launch by YouTuber Nick Shirley exposed operational challenges, though Base has yet to address whether this impacts its Zora-focused roadmap.

Coinbase Unveils 2026 Super App Strategy to Expand Beyond Crypto

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has outlined ambitious plans to transform the platform into a comprehensive financial services hub by 2026. The strategy centers on developing an 'everything exchange' capable of handling cryptocurrencies, equities, commodities, and derivatives through a unified interface.

The initiative will prioritize global expansion of trading services, scaling stablecoin payments, and accelerating on-chain adoption through Base chain development. Armstrong's vision positions Coinbase to compete directly with traditional finance platforms while maintaining its crypto-native advantages.

This pivot reflects growing institutional demand for integrated digital asset solutions and could significantly impact the valuation of major cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH that FORM the backbone of Coinbase's trading ecosystem.