Base Network Leverages Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade to Scale
In a recent interview with BeInCrypto, Jesse Pollak, Head of Base and Coinbase Wallet, discusses how they are capitalizing on Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade to enhance transaction throughput and drive smart wallet innovation.
Base Network Aims to Double Throughput With Enhanced Blob Capacity
The highly anticipated Ethereum Pectra upgrade went live on May 7, introducing key features like EIP-7702 and increasing blob capacity to support rollup scalability.
Jesse Pollak, the Creator of Base and Head of Protocols at Coinbase, sees this upgrade as a game-changer for Ethereum, unlocking new possibilities for Base to expand access to the on-chain economy.
Notably, Pectra boosts Ethereum’s data throughput by increasing the number of blobs per block from 3–6 to 6–9, directly impacting Base and other Layer-2 scaling solutions relying on Ethereum for data availability.
“The Pectra upgrade will double Ethereum’s capacity to secure L2 transactions, enabling Base and others to process 2x more transactions per second. This scalability will help keep fees low as on-chain activity grows,” Pollak explained in the interview.
Launched by Coinbase in 2023, Base has quickly emerged as a leading Ethereum Layer-2, surpassing Arbitrum as the largest optimistic rollup based on total value secured (TVS) metrics.
Top 10 L2 rollups on TVS metrics. Source: L2Beat
Pollak confirmed that the team is working towards scaling Base to achieve a throughput milestone of 250 Mgas/s blockspace.
“We set an ambitious goal to scale Base to 250 Mgas/s blockspace throughput this year, and we are actively working towards achieving it,” he stated.
This aligns with Ethereum’s broader scaling roadmap, with developers like Tim Beiko hinting at further blob capacity growth by the end of the year following the Pectra upgrade.
EIP-7702 Transforms Wallets, and Base Is Prepared
One of the most transformative features of Pectra is EIP-7702, allowing existing Ethereum accounts to upgrade into smart wallets without changing addresses or losing asset history.
“Pectra’s 7702 enables smart wallet upgrades, allowing users to seamlessly transition from traditional wallets to smart wallets without losing assets or identity,” Pollak elaborated.
Base has been proactively working towards this future, with plans to launch a “dream wallet” within the next 6-12 months to revolutionize Web2 storage and enhance security and scalability.
“I envisioned a ‘dream wallet’ that would be 10X better than current web2 or on-chain solutions. We are working hard to solve challenges and believe we can achieve this vision soon,” Pollak shared in August.
With Pectra’s enhancements, realizing this vision becomes more attainable. Pollak is dedicated to refining the product to ensure a seamless user experience.
“Users can upgrade their existing EOA wallets to smart wallets, bringing along all assets and identity without starting anew,” he explained.
Looking Beyond Pectra: Fusaka and Future Developments
Pollak emphasized that Pectra is just the beginning of global on-chain scalability, with Base playing a pivotal role in Ethereum’s open-source future.
“Base actively contributes to Ethereum’s open standards, aiming to lower transaction costs and onboard more users to the network,” Pollak highlighted.
He mentioned the upcoming Fusaka Upgrade, which will further enhance blob capacity and support the network’s growth.
“Our goal is to maintain low transaction costs while scaling the network to accommodate more users,” Pollak stated.
A Future of Seamless, Scalable Onchain Access
With Pectra now live, Base benefits from Ethereum’s improved infrastructure in terms of throughput and user experience.
As Ethereum continues to evolve with upgrades like Fusaka, Base stands as a key player in the ecosystem, aiming to onboard millions of users without compromising affordability or simplicity.
Base TVL and DEX volume. Source: DefiLlama
Base’s TVL currently stands at $3.705 billion, reflecting a 21% increase from May 7. Similarly, DEX volume has risen, indicating growing user trust, liquidity, and DeFi adoption.