Coinbase Transforms Wallet into 'Base App,' Integrating Social, Payments, and AI

Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has officially launched its new "Base App," a comprehensive "super app" designed to integrate social media, payments, and artificial intelligence capabilities within a single platform. The unveiling, spearheaded by CEO Brian Armstrong, occurred at a "A New Day One" event in Los Angeles on July 16, 2025, marking a significant strategic pivot for the company. The new application replaces the existing Coinbase Wallet, aiming to broaden access to the crypto economy beyond traditional trading.

Brian Armstrong signaled the major announcement via a tweet, stating, > "Live now: launching the future of @base. We’re about to share a bunch of cool new stuff." This launch signifies Coinbase's ambition to create an "everything app" akin to China's WeChat, offering a unified user experience for various digital interactions. The move is intended to diversify Coinbase's revenue streams, which have historically been heavily reliant on trading fees.

The Base App is built on Coinbase's proprietary Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, Base, and introduces several key features. These include "Base Account," an identity verification system, and "Base Pay," an express checkout tool for USDC stablecoin payments that supports tap-to-pay and offers 1% cashback incentives. Integrations with platforms like Shopify enable instant USDC settlements for merchants, bypassing traditional card network fees.

Beyond payments, the app incorporates a decentralized social graph, leveraging protocols like Farcaster for social networking and Zora for tokenized posts, allowing creators more control and monetization options. It also features "Based Agent," an AI-powered helper for transactions and on-chain activities, alongside support for hundreds of embedded mini-applications ranging from gaming to prediction markets. This rich ecosystem aims to enhance daily utility and user engagement.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has articulated ambitious goals for the initiative, expressing a "stretch goal" to make USDC the world's leading stablecoin and Coinbase "the number one financial services app in the world" within the next five to ten years. While the app is initially rolling out to waitlisted users, its success hinges on overcoming challenges such as regulatory uncertainties, potential friction with app store policies, and user adoption inertia, despite strong investor reception reflected in Coinbase's stock performance.