Base to bring Optimism’s fault-proof system to enhance decentralization

Coinbase’s layer-2 network Base is set to launch the fault-proof system, allowing users to independently confirm the validity of withdrawals.

Ethereum-based network Base will integrate Optimism‘s fault-proof system — also known as fraud proofs — on Oct. 30, enabling users to verify withdrawals without relying on trusted third parties in a bid to “pave the way towards more community participation.”

The rollout, announced in an X post on Oct. 24, represents a key milestone for Base’s decentralization strategy as the implementation will enable anyone to monitor and challenge withdrawal transactions if they are deemed invalid. Base emphasizes that the upgrade represents a shift from the current model, where only centralized proposers can submit output roots about the state of the network.

With the new system brought to Base in collaboration with Optimism, permissionless output proposals will become a core feature on the network, allowing community members to make claims about Base’s state rather than relying on a central authority. Additionally, users will be able to challenge fraudulent or faulty claims through a decentralized mechanism, which promotes broader community participation in securing the network, according to Base’s technical documentation.

The use of fault proofs, first implemented on Optimism, prevents the passing of inaccurate transaction data to Ethereum’s layer-1 blockchain. Built using the OP Stack from OP Labs, Coinbase’s Base network looks to create a more community-driven ecosystem, aligning with broader goals of decentralization across the Ethereum landscape.