If you've been following the crypto space, especially the wild world of meme tokens, you've probably heard of Base. It's an Ethereum Layer 2 chain built by Coinbase that's become a hotspot for meme coins, thanks to its low fees and vibrant community. Well, things just got a lot more interesting. On September 15, 2025, Jesse Pollak, the head of Base, dropped a bombshell in a tweet: Base is starting to explore creating its own network token.

For those new to the term, a network token is essentially a native cryptocurrency for a blockchain network. Think of it like ETH for Ethereum—it could be used for paying gas fees, staking, or even governance. Right now, Base uses ETH for transactions, but introducing a token could change the game, making the ecosystem more self-sustaining and decentralized.

The announcement came via a tweet from the official Base account, which included a video of Pollak speaking at Basecamp, an event for builders and enthusiasts. In the clip, he shares that Base is in the very early stages—no details on timing, design, or how it'll be governed yet. But they're committed to building this out in the open, involving the community every step of the way.

Pollak followed up with his own post, emphasizing that "it's still day one," and the best part is that the community gets to shape the story. This open approach is classic Base— they've always prioritized transparency and collaboration, which has helped foster a thriving onchain culture.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens

Meme tokens thrive on hype, community, and accessibility, and Base has been a breeding ground for them. Projects like Brett or other viral memes have exploded on Base because of its cheap transactions and easy onboarding. A native token could supercharge this ecosystem in a few ways:

• Economic Incentives: Imagine staking the Base token to earn rewards or using it to boost liquidity for meme pools. This could attract more traders and creators, leading to even more meme launches.

• Decentralization Boost: Pollak highlighted the need for Base to become a fully decentralized network. A token could play a key role here, perhaps through decentralized governance where holders vote on upgrades. For meme communities, this means more power in the hands of everyday users, aligning with the decentralized ethos that makes memes so appealing.

• Onchain Alignment: He stressed aligning builders, creators, and participants. In the meme world, this could translate to fairer launches, community-driven projects, and tools that reward genuine engagement over pump-and-dumps.

Of course, it's early days, and Pollak admitted to feeling nervous about sharing this so soon. He got advice to keep it under wraps, but chose the "Based way"—open and collaborative. They're sticking to Ethereum, working with regulators, and pushing crypto's boundaries to create a global economy.

Community Reactions and What's Next

The tweet sparked immediate buzz. Replies ranged from excited calls to "COIN IT!" (a nod to minting the token) to questions about whether it'll be an L1 or L2 (spoiler: Base is firmly an L2 on Ethereum). Meme enthusiasts are already speculating on tickers like $BASE and how it might integrate with existing memes.

One user pointed out, "base is for everyone," echoing Base's slogan and hinting at inclusive tokenomics. Others are bullish on exponential growth, planning spaces to discuss the livestream notes.

As for meme tokens specifically, this could be a catalyst. Base's onchain summer has already seen massive adoption, and a network token might extend that vibe year-round. If you're holding or building memes on Base, keep an eye on updates—community input will shape this.

In the end, Pollak's message rings true: It's day one, and the story is ours to write. Whether you're a meme trader, builder, or just curious, this exploration could redefine how we think about network tokens in the meme era. Stay based, folks.

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