In a recent thread on X, Armani Ferrante, founder and CEO of Backpack and Mad Lads, shared his thoughts on a leaked 2026 playbook from Coinbase Ventures. The original post by @1CrypticPoet highlighted what Coinbase is pushing on the Base chain: real-world asset (RWA) perpetuals for betting on things like housing, AI agents with their own wallets, and unsecured credit based on reputation.

Ferrante pushed back, arguing that "betting on housing is not better than owning housing." He stressed that crypto won't truly matter until we bring the actual underlying assets for RWAs fully onchain. Perpetual contracts, or perps—those leveraged bets on price movements—don't shine in isolation. They're way more powerful when you can also trade the spot asset directly on the blockchain.

This conversation ties into the bigger picture for meme tokens and blockchain enthusiasts. Base, as an Ethereum layer-2 built by Coinbase, is gearing up for more liquidity in these areas. But as Ferrante points out, without spot trading for RWAs, we're missing the foundation that could make perps and other derivatives explode in value.

Understanding RWAs and Perps in Crypto

Real-world assets, or RWAs, refer to tokenizing traditional assets like real estate, stocks, or commodities on the blockchain. This makes them easier to trade, fractionalize, and access globally. Perps are futures-like contracts that let you speculate on price without owning the asset, often with leverage.

Ferrante's point is spot-on: if you can't trade the actual tokenized house or property onchain, betting on its price feels disconnected. Bringing spot assets onchain could unlock massive potential, especially for meme-driven communities looking to blend fun with real utility.

The Broader Implications for Base and Meme Tokens

@1CrypticPoet's post suggests Coinbase Ventures sees big opportunities in RWA perps (like betting on housing prices instead of buying), AI agents (think bots with wallets handling trades autonomously), and unsecured credit (loans based on your onchain rep, not collateral).

Ferrante's reply reminds us that true innovation comes from grounding these in real, tradable assets. For meme token holders on Base, this could mean more ways to engage with RWAs in a playful yet profitable manner. Imagine meme communities pooling to own fractional real estate onchain—that's the future Ferrante seems to advocate for.

There's even a quick reply from @0xLeonz echoing "spot first," reinforcing the need to prioritize actual asset tokenization.

As blockchain evolves, discussions like this help practitioners stay ahead. If you're diving into Base or RWAs, keep an eye on how spot markets develop—they could be the key to making perps and AI agents truly game-changing.

For more insights on meme tokens and blockchain trends, check out our knowledge base at Meme Insider.