Base Account Powers Universal Onchain Identity and Payments, Reaching Tens of Thousands of Shopify Merchants

Blockchain platform Base is advancing its vision for a pervasive onchain identity and payment system, as highlighted by David Tso (dave.base.eth) on social media. Tso's tweet underscores the utility of a "@base account" as a "single identity that works everywhere," from gaming applications like "@intothedungeons" to online shopping via "@Shopify stores," facilitated by "Sign in with Base and Base pay." This initiative positions Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 incubated by Coinbase, to streamline user experiences across diverse digital environments.

The core of this advancement is the Base Account, described as a universal onchain identity system designed to simplify digital interactions. This feature aims to provide users with a unified login that functions across various decentralized applications (dApps), eliminating the need for multiple credentials. Base Account represents a significant step towards a more integrated and user-friendly Web3 ecosystem, offering a cross-app identity layer.

Complementing the universal identity is Base Pay, a new checkout tool engineered for seamless USDC stablecoin transactions. Developed in collaboration with e-commerce giant Shopify, Base Pay enables one-click online purchases and is slated for expansion to in-store tap-to-pay functionality. Coinbase is incentivizing adoption with a 1% cashback offer in USDC for U.S. users, aiming to make onchain payments a mainstream convenience.

The integration with Shopify, already rolled out to tens of thousands of merchants, demonstrates the practical application of Base Pay in real-world commerce. Beyond retail, the mention of games like "Into the Dungeons" within the Base App ecosystem illustrates the breadth of its intended reach. This broad utility aligns with Coinbase's strategy to foster a vibrant ecosystem where users can engage with social features, mini-apps, and financial services using a single, consistent identity.

The Base App, a rebrand of the former Coinbase Wallet, is evolving into a "super app" that bundles social networking, trading, and payment functionalities. This strategic pivot by Coinbase seeks to diversify its revenue streams beyond traditional trading and drive broader adoption of the crypto economy. Jesse Pollak, the Coinbase executive leading Base, emphasizes building a valuable service that becomes part of consumers' daily online life.

Underpinning these user-facing innovations is the Base network itself, recently rebranded as "Basechain" and known for its high efficiency. Utilizing Optimistic Rollups on Ethereum, Basechain boasts sub-second transaction finality and costs below one cent, with recent technical upgrades like Flashblocks reducing block times to 200 milliseconds. These technical improvements are crucial for enabling the fast, seamless identity and payment experiences promoted by the platform.