Base Moves Away From Optimism’s OP Stack, Stirring Debate Over Open-Source L2 Infrastructure and Monetization

Coinbase’s Base used the Optimism Collective’s MIT-licensed OP Stack to build its Ethereum Layer 2 network in 2023 and returned a portion of sequencer revenue to the Superchain. The largest user’s decision to develop a separate technology stack highlights a key trade-off: fully open-source software can establish standards quickly, but licensing alone may not retain customers. It has also put fees for “community source code” and the sustainability of public infrastructure in the spotlight.

On February 18, 2026, Base announced that it would integrate its node, execution and proof systems into its self-operated base/base architecture, reducing its reliance on the OP Stack. It will still make the source code public and continue using OP Enterprise. OP fell 28% to $0.12 within 48 hours of the announcement, leaving it 89.8% below its all-time high. Base paid about 3,765 ETH in 2025, accounting for more than 70% of the Superchain’s annual revenue share.