Xen Baynham-Herd on Constructing Base: From Experimental L2s to Actual On-chain Adoption

Xen Baynham-Herd, Head of International Progress at Base at Coinbase, sees on-chain infrastructure not as a distinct segment experiment however as the inspiration of the following web.

Talking about Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 community, Baynham-Herd explains what success actually means for Base, how the builder surroundings is maturing, and why consumer expertise—not grants or hype—will decide who wins.

What Success for Base Seems to be Like—and What Failure Would Imply

In an interview with CryptoNews, Baynham-Herd describes Base as a key piece in unlocking an on-chain future for the web. In three to 5 years, success would imply that utilizing on-chain functions feels as pure as utilizing any app on a smartphone.

Customers shouldn’t have to consider blockchain mechanics—they need to merely expertise pace, security, and familiarity, whereas remaining totally in charge of their digital lives.

Failure, against this, could be an lack of ability to make on-chain experiences intuitive and democratic. If decentralised infrastructure can’t really feel open, reliable, and seamless at scale, it dangers remaining a distinct segment relatively than turning into the default digital layer of the web.

The place Base Refuses to Compete within the L2 Arms Race

Whereas many Layer-2 networks compete aggressively on charges and uncooked throughput, Baynham-Herd says Base’s differentiation lies elsewhere. Base already affords sub-second speeds and sub-cent charges, however efficiency alone just isn’t the top objective.

As a substitute, Base prioritises consumer expertise, distribution, and deep product integration. Its long-term success will likely be measured by belief, comfort, and scale—components that matter much more to mainstream customers than marginal charge reductions.

The Greatest Mistake Builders Make on Base

In accordance with Baynham-Herd, the most typical mistake founders make is failing to obsess over consumer expertise. The strongest groups focus relentlessly on constructing merchandise that appeal to and retain new customers—not simply crypto natives, however individuals coming into the ecosystem for the primary time.

He advises founders to disregard short-term noise and concentrate on creating functions that genuinely delight customers. Sustainable development, he argues, comes from fixing actual issues, not from chasing traits.

From Experimentation to Sturdy On-chain Merchandise

Over the previous 12 months, Baynham-Herd has seen a shift towards extra severe groups committing to long-term growth on Base. These builders are not simply testing concepts—they’re designing merchandise meant to endure.

A key change is how groups take into consideration wallets and identification. Wallets are evolving from easy key-management instruments into representations of on-chain identification—areas the place participation, creation, and connection coexist. This shift is reshaping how merchandise are designed and the way customers interact on-chain.

Why Regulation and Adoption Metrics Matter Extra Than Token Costs

Being intently linked to a regulated firm like Coinbase is, in Baynham-Herd’s view, a strategic benefit relatively than a limitation. Regulation supplies transparency and client safety, which severe builders more and more worth as on-chain merchandise attain mainstream audiences.

He additionally urges observers to look past token worth actions when assessing adoption. Actual traction, he says, is mirrored in consumer development and app engagement—not in whether or not a coin goes up or down. Sturdy on-chain companies are constructed by groups whose customers present up with out incentives, pushed by real perception within the product and its long-term worth.

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