VITALIK BUTERIN defends the Coinbase base network and ensures that it is not “a centralized custodian”

Ethereum co -founder, Vitalik Bugerin, publicly defended the network Base of Coinbase, arguing that it should not be dismissed or qualified as a centralized custodian. His statements occurred on Monday night through their X account, in response to criticism about the governance structure and the security of this layer 2 protocol.

In its publication, Bugerin said that Base “is doing things in the right way” When operating as a layer 2 (L2) solution on Ethereum. As explained, The network uses centralized functions to offer a better user experience, but maintains safety anchored in the decentralized base layer of Ethereum.

The developer stressed that Base It has no custody about user funds. “They cannot steal funds or prevent retreats”he said, highlighting that the logic of contracts in Ethereum It guarantees exits even if a layer 2 failure. For Buterin, systems such as L2beat They are not evidence of ideological purity, but concrete protection measures for the user.

In April, Base advanced to the Stage 1 Within the decentralization model of Rollups proposed by Buterin. The network introduced a security council that limits unilateral control of Coinbase and demand independent members, although centralized elements still persist.

Neutrality of the sequencers

Buterin responded to comments from Jesse Pollak, director of Base in Coinbase, who defended the centralized sequencers – found to collect, order and group transactions before sending them to Ethereum— as “Traffic controllers” neutral The latter said that at any time a user can operate directly in Base through Ethereum, What anchors transactions to the assembly of validators and maintains resistance to censorship.

Pollak rejected the idea that Base It works as a non -regulated stock market. “Today we are actively working towards stage 2 and investing to further decentralize block construction,” affirmed. According to him, this infrastructure allows climbing Ethereum without compromising your neutrality and is “A critical piece of the global economy Ochain”.

The legal director of Coinbase, Paul Grewal also intervened in the debate. Compared sequencers with infrastructure similar to Amazon Web Services (AWS), instead of exchange platforms. “[La SEC] defines ‘exchange’ as a market that brings together buyers and securities vendors. But L2 are general purpose blockchains ”he said, and then emphasized that, like AWS Execute third parties code, Base Process transactions without acting as an exchange.

Criticism and risks indicated by the community

Buterin acknowledged that Base Follow in stage 1 of decentralization, where a supermayory of the Security Council can modify contracts. However, he stressed that there are quorum rules that prevent Coinbase censor or subtract funds unilaterally. In his opinion, the route to stage 2, in which not even the advice could cancel the code in chain, is already outlined and is viable as the demand grows.

However, criticism did not wait. Eric Wall, co -founder of Taproot Wizardshe insisted that Base It is still “A custodial system” In terms of fund security, since contracts are modifiable by governance. For wall, this makes base more like a custodian than as a completely decentralized extension of Ethereum, details The Block.

Lane rettig, former main development of Ethereum, warned about coercion risks, such as the possibility of governments to press Coinbase. Other analysts, such as Alex Thorn from Galaxy, They argued that Bugerin’s defense omits the debate on whether L2 must meet stock of stock market when values ​​are negotiated in them.

A native token on the horizon

The controversy coincides with signs that Base He could launch his own currency. Last week, Pollak announced that layer 2 network 2 “It began to explore” This option. Their supporters see in this asset a route to accelerate decentralization and expand participation in block construction. Their detractors, on the other hand, warn that it could reinforce the influence of Coinbase under the appearance of community governance.

Some critics even question if an additional token is needed, considering that L2 can already use Eth For gas and safety rates, and that the sequencers could be decentralized by staking mechanisms or bonds in the digital currency without introducing a new asset.

In short, the debate on Base reflects a greater tension in the ecosystem: how to balance scalability and decentralization without sacrificing the safety and neutrality that gave rise to Ethereum.

Written article with the help of an AI content editor, edited by Angel Di Matteo / Diariobitcoin

Original image of Diariobitcoin, Created with artificial intelligence, for free use, licensed under public domain.

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