Main risks of using Base: control and bridges
The main risks of using Base are Coinbase's control of its sequencer and the bridge to Ethereum, where bugs or hacks can trap bridged assets.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
On this page
Base is an Ethereum scaling network that Coinbase built and operates. People use it to send assets and move funds between Ethereum and Base. Coinbase launched Base in 2023.
What are the main risks of Base?
Base settles on Ethereum, but Coinbase controls the parts that keep it running. A single sequencer orders every transaction, and Coinbase operates it, so the company can censor or halt the network. The bridge adds a second risk: a bug or hack can put bridged assets at risk.
- Censorship: the sequencer can refuse transactions.
- Downtime: an outage stops new transactions.
- Bridge bugs: a flaw can lock bridged assets.
- Bridge hacks: attackers target pooled assets.
What can Coinbase do to your funds?
Coinbase controls Base's core contracts. It can upgrade them and change the rules. US sanctions rules require US companies to block Treasury-listed addresses, so Coinbase can freeze those addresses on Base.
Why do Base withdrawals get delayed?
Moving funds from Base to Ethereum goes through the bridge, and the bridge does not release them at once. Base gives watchers time to challenge a withdrawal they think is wrong. That challenge period usually lasts about seven days.
The wait applies to withdrawals to Ethereum. Transfers inside Base settle much faster.
What scams target Base users?
Base has no official token that Coinbase issues, and tokens branded as Base are likely scams. Scammers also build fake bridge sites and fake support accounts that ask for your seed phrase. A malicious token can ask you to approve unlimited spending, and the scammer can then empty that token.
Frequently asked questions
Assets on Base live on the blockchain, so they would not disappear if Coinbase stopped running the network. New transactions could stall without the sequencer, and funds in your Coinbase account are a separate custodial risk.
Base is a public blockchain, so transactions are traceable by default. Addresses, amounts, and contract calls are visible to anyone.
Look up the token's contract on a block explorer and check whether the code is verified and who controls it. Also check whether the contract can mint new tokens or block sales.
