Coinbase has officially unveiled its highly anticipated new mobile application, Base, at a packed event in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The app, a significant rebrand and expansion of the existing Coinbase Wallet, went live earlier in the day, promising to revolutionize how users interact with the on-chain economy.
Billed as an "everything app," Base aims to transcend simple cryptocurrency transactions. It provides users with a comprehensive suite of tools to create, earn, message, game, and even interact with AI, all within a single, integrated platform.
"We’re going from a single-player tool to a network," John Granata, Coinbase Director of Product, told after the launch. He emphasized the app's "social forward" nature, designed to facilitate how people trade, send payments, connect with friends, and collaboratively build applications.
Among the excited attendees was serial entrepreneur and Vee Friends creator Gary Vaynerchuk, who spoke at the event. "I’ve been waiting nearly a decade for a decentralized social network. I knew it was the next move," Vaynerchuk shared. "Whether Coinbase pulls it off or not, it’s coming. The early previews and the nuances they delivered were really interesting. I enjoyed it."
Beyond its social, financial, and entertainment features, the Base app introduces a powerful creator-focused monetization model. Every post—whether text, image, or video—can now become an on-chain asset. "For many users who’ve never earned from their media before, Base could be the first place they do," Granata explained. "If your post goes viral, you can earn a lot more due to the ways that you can monetize on the platform." This feature is particularly significant for artists, offering them greater control and financial rewards for their work in a decentralized environment.
Another standout feature is the end-to-end encrypted chat with integrated wallet functionality. Users can send crypto or execute trades directly within a group chat, often assisted by AI agents that can handle transactions with a simple message, streamlining the on-chain experience.
During his keynote speech, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong reiterated the company’s foundational mission: "Coinbase was founded 13 years ago, and our mission is to increase economic freedom in the world. We think crypto is the most important technology to help go do that." Armstrong positioned the Base app as a crucial step away from traditional financial services, aiming to provide "permissionless access for everyone all over the world" once the bridge from fiat to crypto was established.
July 2025, Cryptoniteuae