Coinbase’s Base Lead Champions On-Chain Gaming Economies as the Future of Digital Ownership

Jesse Pollak, the head of Coinbase's ethereum layer-2 network Base, has made a compelling case for the integration of on-chain economies in gaming, citing potential billions in unlocked value. Pollak envisions a future where games like Fortnite operate on open blockchain ecosystems, enabling players to truly own their in-game assets while allowing companies to benefit from third-party innovations. He highlights the advantages of lower fees, global accessibility, and real-world value capture for players as key drivers for this shift. However, skeptics point to existing models like Roblox, which already offers a developer-friendly environment without the need for blockchain. The debate underscores the growing tension between traditional gaming economies and the emerging Web3 paradigm, with Coinbase's Base positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation.

Coinbase's Base Lead Advocates for On-Chain Gaming Economies Amid Skepticism

Jesse Pollak, head of Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network Base, claims Fortnite's economy would flourish onchain, unlocking billions in value. His vision hinges on open ecosystems where players truly own assets and companies benefit from third-party innovation. "Lower fees, global access, and real-world value capture for players," he asserts.

Critics counter with Roblox's existing developer-friendly model. John Wang of Armor Labs highlights Roblox's granular analytics and APIs, arguing blockchain adds friction without clear upside. "Why fix what isn't broken?" he challenges, pointing to Web3 gaming's spotty track record.

Hyperbeat Secures $5.2M Seed Funding to Expand Yield Infrastructure on Hyperliquid

Hyperbeat, the yield infrastructure protocol for Hyperliquid, has raised $5.2 million in an oversubscribed seed round. The funding was co-led by ether.fi Ventures and Electric Capital, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Chapter One, and others. The capital will fuel the development of permissionless yield products for traders and institutions.

The protocol democratizes access to Hyperliquid's funding rate yields through tokenized vaults. Its ecosystem includes liquid staking, credit markets, and payment rails—all integrated with Hyperliquid's $2.1 billion TVL derivatives platform. This comes as institutional interest in on-chain finance reaches new highs.