In a recent tweet, limone.eth, co-founder of Builders Garden and host of a Web3 hub in Rome, shared why he's choosing to build on Base: it makes him feel part of something bigger. This sentiment echoes a powerful presentation from Xen, Head of Global Growth at Base, at the Network State Conference. Let's dive into what this means for the blockchain world, especially for those in the meme token space.
Understanding Base's Vision
Base, built as an Ethereum Layer 2 solution by Coinbase, aims to create a more fair and efficient financial system. Xen highlighted three key components in his talk:
- The Base Chain: This is the core infrastructure, offering fast, cheap, and secure transactions at scale. It's the foundation that allows developers to build without the high costs often associated with Ethereum's mainnet.
- The Base App: Think of it as a one-stop hub combining social networking, app discovery, chat, payments, and trading. It's designed to make on-chain interactions seamless and social.
- Base Build: A toolkit for developers to launch and scale their projects easily.
But Base isn't stopping at being just another blockchain layer. Xen described it as evolving into a "network state," a concept popularized by Balaji Srinivasan. A network state is essentially a decentralized country—online first, with real-world impact.
The Builder Network: A Community-Driven Engine
At the heart of Base's growth is what Xen calls the "Builder Network." This is a global community of founders, creators, traders, and contributors who collaborate to fuel the ecosystem. Here's how it works:
- Founders build apps that provide utility, attract users, and generate fees for the network.
- Creators distribute content, apps, and tokens, earning more than on traditional Web2 platforms.
- Traders supply capital, funding projects in exchange for potential upside.
This interconnected system has already propelled Base to impressive milestones: $12 billion in assets, $4 billion in stablecoins, $3 billion in transactions, and thousands of apps. For meme token enthusiasts, this is huge—Base has become a launchpad for viral memes like those in the Solana ecosystem, but with Ethereum's security and scalability.
Limone.eth's tweet quotes Xen's video, where the sense of belonging is palpable. As Xen put it, the Base community fosters a "national consciousness," making participants feel like they're contributing to something larger than themselves. This vibe is perfect for meme tokens, which thrive on community hype and shared narratives.
How Base Fits the Network State Criteria
Xen broke down Balaji's network state definition and showed how Base is checking the boxes:
- Social Network: Yes, via the Base app.
- Moral Innovation: Core beliefs like "open beats closed" and "ownership unlocks creativity."
- National Consciousness: That feeling of being part of a bigger movement.
- Collective Action: Builders come together to create.
- Integrated Cryptocurrency: Exploring a network token.
- Archipelago of Territories: Active communities in over 25 countries.
- Virtual Capital: The Base app as a digital town hall.
- On-Chain Census: Millions of users and over $1 billion in app revenue.
While not fully there yet—diplomatic recognition is a stretch—Base is on the path. Governments are already warming to crypto, adding it to reserves, so who knows what the future holds?
Why This Matters for Meme Tokens
Meme tokens aren't just jokes; they're cultural phenomena powered by communities. Base's network state ambition amplifies this by providing tools for creators to monetize directly, traders to invest with upside, and founders to build sustainable projects. If you're in the meme game, Base offers low fees, fast transactions, and a vibrant ecosystem where your token can go viral globally.
Limone.eth's choice reflects a growing trend: builders want platforms that feel alive and purposeful. As Base grows, it could redefine how meme tokens evolve from fun experiments to integral parts of a decentralized economy.
For more on this, check out the original tweet by limone.eth and dive into Base's resources on their official site. If you're building or trading memes, Base might just be the network that makes you feel part of something bigger too.