Base L2 Approaches $3 Billion in DEX Volume, Setting a New Record

Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 (L2) blockchain solution, has reached new heights, setting an all-time high daily decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume near $3 billion.

This milestone reflects Base’s growing prominence in the L2 space and its role in scaling on-chain transactions for Coinbase users.

Base Hits New Milestones in DEX Volume

Blockchain analyst Dan Smith highlighted Base L2’s record-breaking volume of $2.9 billion, including $1.3 billion in ETH-USD trading, which also hit an all-time high. Other trading pairs, such as ETH-cbBTC and BTC-USD, were close to breaking their own records.

Base DEX Volume By Pair Type. Source: Blockworks Research

The $2.9 billion DEX volume reflects Base’s growing appeal among traders, particularly in ETH-USD pairs, which benefited from recent price volatility. Alexander, another blockchain enthusiast, noted that this milestone marked the first time Base nearly tagged $3 billion in daily volume, alluding to the development as evidence of L2’s growing adoption.

AerodromeFi, a liquidity-focused decentralized protocol on Base, also recorded an all-time high of $1.68 billion in volume, further emphasizing the ecosystem’s momentum.

“This is the first time Base nearly passed $3 billion and AerodromeFi set a new ATH of $1.68 billion in volume,” Alexander commented.

Base’s success is particularly notable because it operates without a native token. Coinbase explicitly ruled out launching a token for Base, prioritizing ecosystem growth and user adoption instead. This approach has likely contributed to its traction by focusing on utility and reducing speculative risks that could deter long-term users.

“There are no plans for a Base network token. We are focused on building, and we want to solve real problems that let you build better,” Base lead developer Jesse Pollak stated recently.

Consistent Growth in Transactions and TVL

The recent achievement follows Base’s earlier milestones, including reaching one billion transactions two months ago and surpassing six million daily transactions in October. More closely, the network recently outpaced Ethereum in user growth amid growing crypto markets.

Additionally, Base’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has seen consistent growth, indicating increased user participation, asset inflows, and liquidity within its ecosystem. A rising TVL signals greater confidence in the platform, fostering a stronger and more sustainable DeFi environment.

Base TVL and DEX Volume. Source: DefiLlama

Despite its impressive growth, Base has faced some criticism. The network was accused of copying aspects of an NFT project, sparking concerns over originality and intellectual property. While this controversy did not deter adoption, it highlights the challenges of rapid innovation in the competitive blockchain space.

Base’s trajectory positions it as a serious contender in the L2 space, competing with established players like Arbitrum (ARB) and Optimism (OP). Its emphasis on utility, combined with rising user participation and liquidity, paints a promising picture for its future.

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