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The decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape is expanding at an unprecedented pace, but with it comes a pressing need for trust and security. Scams, fraud, and loss of funds threaten the DeFi ecosystem, and Coinbase has stepped forward with an innovative solution.
Introducing “Base,” Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer-2 network designed to create an open ecosystem for new decentralized apps and on-chain products, all while integrating the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) to bolster on-chain trust. Let’s dive into the world of Coinbase’s latest initiative to promote trust, transparency, and user onboarding in DeFi!
The Power of ENS Integration
ENS (Ethereum Name Service) provides human-readable names for blockchain addresses, simplifying interactions with the blockchain. By including and incorporating ENS into Base mart contracts and on-chain reputation systems, Base aims to enhance trust and improve user experience.
ENS, combined with a decentralized reputation systems, becomes a formidable tool for everyone in the DeFi community.
4/8
Coinbase CEO, @brian_armstrong, sees #ENS as the foundational ID component around which the rest of web3 services will be built, and even a badge to access IRL spaces. pic.twitter.com/hFv6Xh4qmD
— ens.vision (@ensvision) March 15, 2023
Introducing the “Base” Layer-2 Network
Base is Coinbase’s Layer-2 solution designed to make Ethereum transactions faster, cheaper, and more developer-friendly. Secured by Ethereum, and empowered by Coinbase, this “rollup agnostic superchain powered by Optimism” will welcome new decentralized apps and services, with big features. Optimism Foundation, a core developer on the open-source OP Stack, collaborated with Coinbase in this ambitious endeavor.
Coinbase’s goal is to enable the next million decentralized apps, attracting the next billion users. Base sets itself apart from other Layer-2 networks with its vision of an open ecosystem, without a native network token.
Coinbase believes that building great products and fostering a useful ecosystem drives activity; and they have plans to decentralize Base, further.
“Coinbase is going to gradually transition into a role where we’re a contributor to Base, we provide services and products that are built on top of Base, and we are not the decision-maker for everything in the Base network—that’s being done through more decentralized governance.” – Jesse Pollak, Coinbase Senior Director of Engineering
With the Base launch, Coinbase has partnered with dozens of collaborators committed to supporting the ecosystem, including Chainlink, Ethereum block explorer Etherscan, and DeFi protocol Aave.
The first partners of Coinbase L2 blockchain Base: Chainlink Infura QuikNode Etherscan HopProtocol 0x(ZRX) Ondo Aave MagicEden Animoca PythNetwork RainbowWallet RibbonFinance Balancer Graph Wormhole Parallel Sushiswap Layerzero Messari Axelar Ethglobal and more. pic.twitter.com/0ZJCTt5eGW
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 23, 2023
Coinbase aims to gradually transition governance of Base to become fully decentralized. While the initial phase sees Coinbase as the primary decision-maker, the company plans to transition to a contributor role, allowing decentralized governance to guide the Base network’s future.
Establishing Trust with On-Chain Reputation Systems
As a leading cryptocurrency exchange, Coinbase urges developers to build on their Layer-2 Network, Base, and to focus on building “on-chain reputation systems” using ENS Protocol.
New video of @Coinbase CEO
👉explains how he 'envisions' his new layer 2 blockchain
👉includes #ENS in his list of reasons!This man really has vision🔮 pic.twitter.com/EzUZGcB2EJ
— ens.vision (@ensvision) March 28, 2023
“Coinbase is doing more with ENS & How do we make connecting to dApps easier; All of these things ideally should be seamless.” – Brian Armstrong, Coinbase CEO
The objective is to foster trust between users and minimize scams and fraud in DeFi applications. Coinbase envisions a credit score or rank-like system for on-chain identities that empowers users to interact confidently with DeFi apps.
This system could include ratings and reviews for merchants, facilitating trust and improving user experience.
Potential Challenges & Solutions for On-Chain Reputation Systems
On-chain reputation systems show immense potential, but they also present challenges. Developers must strike a balance between building trust and preserving user privacy.
Coinbase emphasizes the importance of user privacy and autonomy, calling for a reputation protocol that maintains this delicate equilibrium; and these reputation protocols could utilize the existing ENS protocol, the original Blockchain-naming protocol, which was funded by the Ethereum Foundation.
Developers must ensure reputation criteria are unbiased, fair, and resistant to manipulation. By creating robust systems that incentivize honest behavior and penalize dishonest actions, developers can address these challenges, while balancing or preserving users’ privacy.
“I’m pretty excited about for instance decentralized identity with [Ethereum-based decentralized domain name service] ENS – that’s a foundational component so people’s identity doesn’t have to be sort of owned by a big tech company.
Once you have decentralized identities, you can connect them in a social graph, you can make decentralized social networks. You can have public profile pages with badges and accreditation. And your badge you’re accessing buildings, proof-of-attendance concert tickets all these kinds of things.” – Brian Armstrong, Coinbase CEO
Real-World Success Stories & Future Applications
The DeFi industry has seen several success stories. For instance, a DeFi lending platform integrating ENS and an on-chain reputation system experienced increased trust among users and reduced fraud cases. Users can easily evaluate “potential borrowers” based on their ENS names and reputation scores, streamlining the lending process and bolstering seamless trustlessness.
Future developments may see more sophisticated reputation systems incorporating advanced algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to assess on-chain identities and actions more accurately.
Join the Trustworthy DeFi Revolution
Coinbase’s Base network and ENS integration bring innovation, dedication, and collaboration to the forefront of the DeFi landscape. The on-chain reputation system has the potential to reshape the industry, attracting more users to DeFi applications, minimizing fraud risks, and enhancing the overall user experience.
Coinbase, Base, & Brian Armstrong ENS Links:
As DeFi continues to gain popularity, developers must stay ahead of emerging trends and challenges. By incorporating user-friendly ENS names, building robust on-chain reputation systems, and fostering a global community, the DeFi landscape can thrive with trust, security, and transparency at its core.
So, let’s explore and learn from this exciting new chapter in the DeFi space and embark on a journey toward a more secure, trustworthy, and user-friendly ecosystem, from this Base layer-2. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let’s work together to shape the future of decentralized finance!
