Coinbase’s Base Network Navigates Congestion Challenges as Engineers Deploy Long-Term Scaling Solutions

On February 1, 2026, Base, the ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution developed by Coinbase, encountered intermittent transaction packaging delays during periods of significant network congestion. While the core block production mechanism remained operational, end-users experienced notably longer confirmation times, with some transactions being dropped entirely. The engineering team publicly acknowledged the performance issues via social media channels, emphasizing their commitment to implementing "long-term solutions" aimed at enhancing network reliability and throughput. This incident follows a prior 19-minute block production anomaly, highlighting the growing pains associated with scaling blockchain infrastructure to meet surging demand. As a foundational piece of Coinbase's broader ecosystem strategy, Base's performance is critical for enabling low-cost, high-speed transactions and onboarding the next wave of users and developers. The proactive communication and focus on systemic fixes, rather than temporary patches, reflect a mature approach to network development. For investors and observers, these technical hurdles are part of the expected evolution for leading Layer-2 networks. The team's transparent response and dedication to robust, long-term scalability upgrades underscore the project's commitment to building a durable infrastructure layer. Such developments, while presenting short-term friction, are essential steps toward achieving the seamless, scalable user experience necessary for mass adoption. The ongoing optimization of Base directly supports Coinbase's vision of a more accessible and efficient digital asset economy, reinforcing the long-term bullish thesis for well-engineered scaling solutions within the crypto landscape.

Base Network Faces Transaction Delays Amid Congestion, Engineers Work on Fixes

Base, Ethereum's Layer-2 scaling solution, reported intermittent transaction packaging delays during periods of network congestion. While block production remains unaffected, users experienced longer confirmation times or dropped transactions. Engineers acknowledged the issue on social media, stating they are "working on long-term solutions" to improve reliability.

The incident follows a similar 19-minute block production halt in late 2023. Base's team emphasized that Core operations continue, but peak traffic may cause temporary disruptions. No root cause analysis has been released yet.

Market observers note this highlights the scaling challenges still facing L2 solutions despite Ethereum's Dencun upgrade. The network processes transactions for multiple tokens including ETH, DEGEN, and BRETT.

Singapore Retiree Falls Victim to Deepfake Crypto Scam

A Singaporean retiree lost funds to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam involving AI-generated deepfake videos. The victim was added to a WhatsApp group promoting a fraudulent investment scheme falsely endorsed by a government minister through manipulated video content.

After clicking a registration link and paying a $250 fee, the victim received a call from someone posing as a Coinbase representative. The scam Leveraged the credibility of legitimate exchanges to appear authentic, highlighting growing risks of AI-powered financial fraud in digital asset markets.