Coinbase Launches ’Base App’ to Compete with Asian Crypto Super Apps

Coinbase has unveiled a major rebranding of its wallet product, now called 'Base App,' during its 'A New Day One' conference. This transformative move aims to position Coinbase as a dominant player in the crypto super app space, directly competing with Asian giants like WeChat. The Base App integrates social networking via Farcaster, seamless trading, USDC payments, and hundreds of Web3 mini-apps, offering users a comprehensive crypto experience. By eliminating traditional creator monetization barriers, Coinbase is pushing the boundaries of decentralized finance and user engagement. This strategic shift underscores Coinbase's ambition to lead the Western market in crypto innovation and adoption.

Coinbase Rebrands Wallet as 'Base App' in Push for Crypto Super App Dominance

Coinbase has radically transformed its wallet product into a multipurpose crypto platform, rebranding it as Base App at its 'A New Day One' conference. The new offering combines social networking through Farcaster integration with trading, USDC payments, and hundreds of Web3 mini-apps—positioning itself as a Western competitor to Asian super apps like WeChat.

The app eliminates traditional creator monetization barriers by enabling direct earnings from tokenized posts, while its NFC tap-to-pay functionality could accelerate stablecoin adoption. Base Account, the unified identity system, may finally solve Web3's fragmented authentication challenges.

With features ranging from encrypted messaging to seamless trading, Base App represents Coinbase's most ambitious attempt to date at creating an all-in-one crypto ecosystem. The beta launch comes as competitors race to build the definitive interface for decentralized finance and social interaction.

BlackRock Seeks to Add Staking to iShares Ethereum ETF After SEC Approval

BlackRock has filed an amendment with the SEC to incorporate staking features into its iShares ethereum Trust (ETHA), following the regulator's recent approval of the first staking-based crypto ETF. The proposal outlines plans to stake "all or a portion" of the fund's ETH holdings through reputable providers, with Coinbase likely serving as the staking partner.

The move signals growing institutional acceptance of yield-generating mechanisms in regulated crypto products. Competitors like Grayscale and 21Shares are pursuing similar updates to their Ethereum offerings, suggesting a broader industry trend toward staking integration.

Notably, the filing specifies that the Trust will avoid pooling assets or assuming slashing risks, addressing key regulatory concerns. This development comes as the House prepares to vote on landmark crypto legislation this week.

Ripple Co-Founder Moves $26M in XRP to Coinbase Amid Price Surge

Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen transferred $26 million worth of XRP to Coinbase as the cryptocurrency traded at $3.25, its highest level in seven months. The transaction has sparked speculation about potential selling pressure, though Larsen has not publicly disclosed his motives.

This year alone, Larsen has moved over 106 million XRP—worth approximately $344 million—to centralized exchanges. The timing coincides with XRP's rally toward its all-time high of $3.40, suggesting a possible strategic sale or portfolio rebalancing. Coinbase's liquidity and institutional-grade custody likely facilitated the large transfer.

Larsen's net worth surged from $3.2 billion in 2024 to $10 billion in 2025, fueled largely by XRP's appreciation. Crypto wallets linked to him still hold 2.6 billion XRP, indicating retained exposure despite recent moves.