Base has always shown promise as an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, but lately, it's been on fire. With activity exploding, new infrastructure rolling out, a fresh app in the works, and whispers of a native token, Base is stepping into a whole new phase. This comes from a recent deep dive by Bankless, where they chatted with Jesse Pollak, the mind behind Base. If you're into meme tokens, this is huge because Base has become a hotspot for onchain memes and community-driven projects. Let's break it down.

The Base Chain Boom

Since spring, Base's chain has leveled up big time. DeFi total value locked (TVL) has almost doubled to $5 billion. Protocols like Morpho and Aave have seen their TVL triple. Morpho's Bitcoin-backed loans, tied in with Coinbase, have skyrocketed 10x to $720 million in borrows. Plus, you can now deposit USDC straight into Morpho vaults via Coinbase for yields over 4%—perfect timing with interest rate cuts on the horizon.

On the tech side, Base isn't slacking:

• Flashblocks: Dropped on July 16, these slash block times from 2 seconds to just 200 milliseconds. That means near-instant trades, super handy for DEXes like Avantis and Aerodrome.
• Stage 1 Decentralization: Back in April, they added permissionless fault proofs and a security council, beefing up security and paving the way for token talks.

Even Vitalik Buterin gave props on a Bankless episode, calling Base a secure extension of Ethereum. For meme token creators, this means faster, cheaper transactions—ideal for launching and trading viral tokens without the gas fees killing the vibe.

Token Talks: Exploring a Network Token

Jesse made it clear: Base is exploring a network token, not dropping one tomorrow. He's drawing inspo from projects like Zora and Virtuals, which use tokens to fuel ecosystem incentives, and SYND's community liquidity models. A token could decentralize Base further, aligning builders and users. Imagine meme tokens getting boosted by native incentives—could be a game-changer for community-driven launches on Base.

Bridging to Solana

Base Camp just announced a native bridge to Solana. This lets you deposit SOL into Base apps, move assets cross-chain, or kick off transactions between ecosystems. Interoperability like this opens doors for meme tokens to flow between chains, potentially sparking cross-community hype and liquidity.

The Base App: Social Onchain Hub

Launched in July as a Coinbase Wallet replacement, the Base App is all about making onchain life social and easy. Think chatting, trading, posting (and earning from it), and discovering mini-apps. Over $500K has been paid out to creators, with top users raking it in. There's a waitlist to keep things smooth for the first 100K users before going wide.

The app's feed, chats, and mini-apps feel like familiar social media, but onchain. For meme enthusiasts, this could mean seamless sharing of token launches, airdrops, and viral content—turning Base into the go-to for meme culture.

Empowering Builders and the Economy

Base is laser-focused on builders, skipping heavy governance for quick rewards:

• Tools Galore: Base Pay for USDC checkouts with 1% cashback; Sign on with Base for easy accounts; Flywheel for reward programs.
• ​Build on Base​: A dashboard with analytics and monetization for mini-app devs.
• Base Batches: Global pre-accelerator for ideas, leading to funding and incubators.

Grants are retroactive—team nominates killer projects via Slack for fast funding. This builder-first vibe is why Base thrives amid crypto noise, focusing on growth over speculation.

Jesse sums it up: It's still day one, but with this momentum, Base is set to connect ecosystems, host social onchain action, and prove crypto's potential. For meme token fans, Base's upgrades mean more tools, faster speeds, and bigger communities to launch the next big thing.

Check out the full thread from BanklessHQ on X for more details. As meme token activity heats up on Base, keep an eye on projects like those mentioned in replies—$KEYCAT, $TIBBIR, and $FUNGI could be just the start.