Layer 2 Crypto Market Shifts as Base Diversifies Beyond Coinbase

Summary

• Base leads ethereum layer 2 growth with 35 percent TVL increase since 2025 amid broader 2026 contraction.
• The base coinbase app shifts to multi-chain trading and tokenization under new leadership.
• Robinhood chain enters as a permissionless AI-native L2 built on Arbitrum tech for financial services.

Base stands out in Ethereum layer 2 scaling. It grew total value locked by 35 percent since 2025. Most rival networks shrank in 2026 instead.

This growth puts Base at the center of L2 changes. The broader market now splits into clear winners and losers. The top three Ethereum L2s control roughly 80 percent of total TVL according to yellow.com research.

Context

Ethereum layer 2 solutions still draw most onchain activity. Smaller ecosystems lost ground this year. Leaders keep adding market share.

Base stands out because its TVL rose while the overall market fell. Coinbase launched Base as its Ethereum scaling network in 2023. By 2026 the chain had built real usage in trading, payments, and tokenization.

That momentum now pushes plans to expand the Base app.

Details

Jesse Pollak leads Base. He said the app will become less Base-centric under new contributor Cobie. The platform will add trading tools across multiple chains and support tokenization plus real-world asset financing.

"Base app to become less Base-centric under Cobie."

, Cobie

Robinhood launched its own permissionless AI-native L2 chain. It settles to Ethereum using Arbitrum technology. The network targets financial services and real-world assets.

Market concentration stays high. The top three Ethereum L2s by TVL hold approximately 80 percent of the category total. Many smaller projects face shrinking activity and limited prospects.

Base also explores a potential network token as part of its long-term roadmap. This move would align incentives with its growing user base.

Outlook

Observers will watch whether Base keeps its TVL gains through the rest of 2026. They will also track how fast the app adds multi-chain features. The entry of Robinhood Chain will test whether new specialized L2s can grab real share or simply reinforce the leaders.