Base Ditches Creator Coins for Pure DeFi: Jesse Pollak's 2026 Pivot to Trading, Payments, and AI Agents
Key Takeaways:Base founder Jesse Pollak has admitted the network's onchain social bet failed, handing the Base app to Cobie and refocusing the Coinbase Layer-2 on trading, stablecoin payments, and AI agents to compete with fintech giants like Stripe and Robinhood. OverviewBase, the Ethereum Layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase, is undergoing its most significant strategic pivot since launch. On July 15, 2026, Base creator and Coinbase executive Jesse Pollak published a candid long-form post on