Vitalik Defends Base's Decentralization Efforts

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin threw his support behind Coinbase’s Layer 2 network, Base, in a detailed post on Saturday, saying the protocol is “doing things the right way” by improving UX through centralized tooling without compromising on Ethereum’s decentralized security guarantees.

What’s the Scoop?

• Buterin’s take: In a lengthy X post, Buterin said Base “does not have custody over your funds,” and emphasized that users are ultimately protected by Ethereum’s Layer 1. He cited Base’s listing on L2Beat’s “stage 1” category as proof that the network meets key decentralization benchmarks, including censorship resistance and user withdrawal guarantees.
• Clarifying L2 security: Responding to critics who say Base’s admin keys could be used to steal user funds, Buterin posted links explaining how L2s are built to allow users to withdraw even if the operator disappears or misbehaves. “The security that L2s provide, that L2Beat measures, reflects concrete properties that protect you as a user from being rugged,” he wrote.
• On-chain proof, not promises: “This is what we mean when we say that L2s are non-custodial,” Buterin wrote. “They are extensions of Ethereum, not glorified servers that happen to submit hashes.”

Bankless Take:

Direct endorsements from Vitalik are a rare occurrence for even the most Ethereum-aligned projects. By validating Base’s design choices, Vitalik is signaling confidence that the L2 model is suited to bring the next wave of users onchain.