DeFi And Web3 Gaming Dominate Q1: Record Transactions Leave Stablecoins In The Dust, Report

In a recent report published by QuickNode, the first quarter of 2024 showed the dominance of decentralized finance (DeFi) and the notable growth of Web3 gaming in the crypto industry, which outperformed the stablecoin sector in key metrics, indicating investor preference and market sentiment during this period. 

Hopes For Second ‘DeFi Summer’ 

Per the report, DeFi experienced a significant resurgence in Q1’24, fueled by a surge in developer and user activity, particularly on chains like Solana (SOL) and Base. 

This resurgence has sparked growing hopes of a second ‘DeFi Summer,’ as DeFi projects embrace new concepts such as staking, liquid staking, restaking, and liquid restaking, which have been catalysts for its growth. Notably, staking now represents a substantial portion of DeFi’s Total Value Locked (TVL).

While stablecoins remain the top spot for address activity, DeFi surpassed stablecoins in an essential metric: transaction counts. 

DeFi

DeFi emerged as the leader in transactions for Q1’24, averaging nearly 7 million daily transactions. Furthermore, DeFi led in fees spent, gas usage, and the overall number of projects despite comprising only approximately 4% of the total crypto market cap.

The TVL for yield-generating protocols within DeFi witnessed steady growth, climbing from $26.5 billion in Q3’23 to $59.7 billion in Q1’24. According to QuickNode, this rally signifies a return of confidence and liquidity to the DeFi markets as investors seek opportunities for yield generation.

Players Take Control With Web3 Gaming

In parallel, Web3-based gaming has emerged as a significant departure from conventional gaming platforms. By leveraging cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Web3 gaming offers players new and decentralized gaming. 

Players now have the opportunity to actively participate in games and earn rewards, shifting control away from centralized entities within the gaming ecosystem.

The report highlights the growth of Web3 gaming, surpassing stablecoins in transaction volume and achieving the highest year-over-year (YoY) active address growth across all categories, with a 155% increase in active addresses during Q1 ’24. 

This surge in player engagement and participation is evident through the exponential growth of transactions within Web3 gaming, which experienced a staggering 370% YoY increase.

The Appeal Of Stablecoins

Although stablecoins continue to lead in daily active users, representing over 41% of all Web3 user activity, other categories have shown higher quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) activity growth, indicating potential catch-up. 

Tether’s USDT remains the dominant stablecoin, controlling approximately 75% of the market cap. Notably, Circle’s USDC has taken the lead in volume and average transaction size, partly due to Coinbase’s efforts to integrate USDC on its platform and promote its use on its Layer 2 network, Base.

DeFi

In addition, the report notes that stablecoins have proven attractive to both new and experienced users, offering stability and value predictability, especially during periods of market uncertainty.

QuickNode attributes the surge in stablecoin user activity in Q1’24 to several factors, including the approval and listing of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, the anticipation of Bitcoin’s next Halving event, the devaluation of fiat currencies, the popularity of low-volatility assets, and the strength of the USD, to which over 90% of stablecoin transactions are anchored.

DeFi

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

How To Buy, Sell, And Trade Crypto On The Base Network

The foundational infrastructure of the Base Network brings about yet another Ethereum Layer 2 network, distinguished by its scalability and empowerment through the notable association with Coinbase. Coinbase is recognized globally as one of the most trusted cryptocurrency exchanges and companies, Coinbase effectively manages a diverse portfolio of crypto assets, solidifying its status as a cornerstone within the digital currency realm.

Positioned as a pivotal solution to address the persistent challenge of high transaction costs within the Ethereum network, the Base Chain stands quite firmly to revolutionize transaction fees, delivering a cost-effective alternative within the secure Ethereum environment. The assurance of a safe and reliable ecosystem is heightened by the affiliation with Coinbase, an industry titan renowned for its unwavering commitment and 10-year-long track record of great service.

Reasons To Trust The Base Chain

The current centralized phase of the Coinbase company, with its owners and Devs known to the public, establishes a solid foundation for users to place their trust in the Base chain. With over a decade of extensive experience in the cryptocurrency space, Coinbase has consistently demonstrated its expertise by developing and launching numerous successful crypto products.

This wealth of experience instills confidence in the Base Chain as it navigates its initial stages of centralization, with a strategic vision to progressively evolve into a decentralized entity over time.

Base Network

For those embarking on their journey within the Base Chain ecosystem, it is imperative to keep certain key considerations in mind. Firstly, the association with Coinbase serves as a testament to the network’s reliability and credibility. Additionally, users can anticipate ongoing enhancements and decentralization initiatives as the Base Chain matures, aligning with the broader ethos of blockchain technology.

In summary, the Base Network, fortified by its affiliation with Coinbase, emerges as a promising Ethereum Layer 2 solution, poised to alleviate the burden of high transaction costs while providing a secure and gradually decentralized environment.

Key Features To Note About Base Chain

  • Absence of Native Token: Notably, the Base Chain currently operates without a native token. Instead, transaction fees within the ecosystem are conducted using Base ETH. This choice streamlines interactions on the Base Chain and positions it as a unique player within the cryptocurrency landscape on the Ethereum chain. Some chain accepts their native token for gas fees but the Base chain accepts Base ETH.
  • Layer 2 Security Powered by Ethereum: The Base Chain distinguishes itself as a layer 2 chain, constructed upon the robust Ethereum technology. This strategic integration ensures a heightened level of security, leveraging the well-established reputation of Ethereum as one of the most secure technologies in the crypto community. Consequently, the Base Chain is anticipated to offer a security profile close to the Ethereum Layer 1 network.

    Related Reading: How To Buy, Sell, And Trade Tokens On The Avalanche Network

  • Developer Transparency and Coinbase Backing: In contrast to many emerging chains, the Base Chain stands out due to its transparent development process and substantial backing by Coinbase. The association with Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, lends credibility and trust. Considering Coinbase’s track record of providing crypto products to over 100 million users and processing $80 billion worth of crypto assets without controversies, users can confidently rely on the expertise of the development team.
  • Anticipated Low Gas Fees: One of the attractive features of the Base Chain is the expectation of significantly lower gas fees compared to the native Ethereum chain. This affordability factor provides users with an opportunity to experience Ethereum Layer 1 compatibility at a fraction of the cost, enhancing the cost-effectiveness of transactions on the Base Chain.
  • Open Source Technology with Optimism Integration: The Base Chain’s Open Source technology is powered by the Optimism Open Source chain. This integration not only supports the overall functionality of the chain but also simplifies the development process for creators. Developers can anticipate a user-friendly environment for building applications on the Base Chain, thanks to the enhanced capabilities and support provided by the Optimism Open Source chain.

Expanding on the diverse utilities and functionalities within the Base Ecosystem

  • Bridging Utility: The Base Ecosystem has a bridging utility, facilitating seamless interoperability with other blockchain networks. This feature enhances the overall connectivity of the Base Chain, allowing for the fluid transfer of assets and data across different blockchain environments.
  • DeFi (Decentralized Finance) Utility: Positioned at the forefront of decentralized finance, the Base Ecosystem provides comprehensive support for DeFi applications. Users can engage in a spectrum of financial services, including lending, borrowing, and trading, all within the secure and efficient framework of the Base Chain.
  • Gaming Utility: Acknowledging the growing significance of blockchain in the gaming industry, the Base Ecosystem integrates a gaming utility. This functionality opens avenues for the development and deployment of blockchain-based games, ensuring a secure and transparent gaming experience for users.
  • Social Utility: Recognizing the social aspect of blockchain technology, the Base Ecosystem incorporates a social utility. This facet enables the creation and deployment of decentralized social applications, fostering interactions, and transactions within a secure and trustless environment.

    Related Reading: How To Buy, Sell, And Trade Tokens on The Polygon Network

  • NFT (Non-Fungible Token) Utility: The Base Ecosystem extends its utility to support Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), a rapidly evolving and popular aspect of the blockchain space. Users can create, trade, and interact with NFTs seamlessly, leveraging the secure infrastructure of the Base Chain.
  • Compatibility with EVM-Supported Wallets: The Base Ecosystem ensures widespread accessibility by allowing users to utilize and access its utilities through different Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) supported wallets. This compatibility enhances user convenience, as individuals can leverage familiar wallets to engage with the diverse utilities offered by the Base Chain.

How To Buy, Sell, And Trade On The Base Network

Select an EVM-Compatible Wallet

To be able to make any transactions on the Base network, you need to have an EVM-Compatible Wallet. Click here to see a list of wallet options you can select from but I would recommend you use MetaMask, it is one of the most popular Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible wallets and also one of the most used wallets for Base Network transactions.

If you are using a PC, install the Metamask wallet extension by clicking on “Add to Chrome” to add the extension to your Chrome browser, as shown below:

Metamask

Once installed, open your MetaMask, set up your account, and make sure to keep your secret phrase very safe, I would advise that you write it down on a shit of paper, away from the internet where it can’t be hacked.

Add The BASE Network To Your MetaMask

To add the Base Network to your MetaMask, search for Chainlist on your browser, open it, connect your MetaMask wallet, search for Base, and add it to MetaMask by clicking on “Add to Metamask”, click on “Approve” and lastly click on “Switch Network” on your Metamask.

Chainlist

Acquire Base ETH

To make any transaction on the Base Network, you need Base ETH. Get your Base ETH from these cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance, OKX, or KuCoin. Buy ETH on these platforms, go to the withdraw section, making sure to choose the BASE network as your transfer Network, which automatically converts your ETH to Base ETH as it gets to the ETH wallet destination.

Related Reading: How To Buy, Sell, and Trade Tokens On The Arbitrum Network

Alternatively, if you already have native ETH in your Metamask wallet, you can use the BASE bridge to bridge from the Ethereum Mainnet to the Base Network.

Bridging to Base Network ETH From Other Ethereum Layer 2s

If you wish to bridge your ETH to Base ETH from other Ethereum Layer 2 solutions, I would recommend secondary bridging platforms featured on the BASE Bridge platform. These platforms facilitate a smooth transition to the Base Network from various Ethereum Layer 2 environments, as shown below.

Example Of Bridging to Base ETH From Other Ethereum Layer 2s

ACROSS PROTOCOL is the first secondary bridging platform featured on the BASE Bridge platform as shown above, all you need to do is connect your Metamask wallet and select the amount of ETH you want to bridge to Base ETH and Bridge.

Swap

After Acquiring your Base ETH, you need to do your research and know which token you want to buy on the Base Network on Coingecko before heading over to Dexscreener to check for the token,  Dexscreener serves as a valuable tool for checking available tokens on the EVM chain, including the Base Network. 

Charts

By selecting the Base network on Dexscreener, you can access a comprehensive chart of available Base tokens. Note that not all tokens are supported on every DeFi DEX, search for the token you would like to trade and select it. After selecting, look out for the Green Box section selected in the image to identify which DeFi platforms support the token you wish to trade. 

Base charts

Obtaining Token Contract Address

Scroll down on the Dexscreener to find the token contract address or go back to Coingecko and copy the contract address. This address is crucial when trading on DeFi platforms.

Contract

Copy the contract address, and when you enter it in the swap section of a DeFi platform like Uniswap, it will reveal the token. If the token is not available on Uniswap, the Dexscreener will redirect you to another supported DeFi where you can trade the token like KyberSwap.

Kyberswap

Connect your wallet to KyberSwap, click on the denominator token, and paste the contract address of the Base token in the search box. Before initiating any trade on DeFi, confirm that the network on the DeFi is on, in this case, the Base Network, ensuring the token’s availability on the Base Network. If it’s not initially on the Base Network, go to “Select a chain”, and select the Base network to ensure compatibility. 

Base DApps

Choose the desired pair of Base tokens and ETH (or other base pairs), specify the amount you want to swap, and execute the trade.

Related Reading: How To Buy, Sell, And Trade Tokens On The BSC Network

Reverse Trading For Base Network ETH

If you wish to trade from a BASE token to Base ETH, simply reverse the order. Place the Base token at the top and the ETH at the bottom, then proceed with the swap. This allows you to exchange your Base token for ETH within the Base Network.

Reverse ETH Kybeswap

By following these steps, you can confidently navigate the trading process on the Base Network, leveraging the features of DeFi platforms and Dexscreener to make informed decisions and execute trades seamlessly.

Conclusion

The Base Network is another Ethereum Layer 2 network which is also affiliated with Coinbase, which is one of the most trusted cryptocurrency exchanges and companies in the crypto space with over 100 million users and processing $80 billion worth of crypto assets. Base Network has a lot of features which I have pointed out in the article already, although the Base Network does not have its Native token yet, it is still trusted and reliable due to its affiliation with Coinbase.

Coinbase’s BASE Shows Teeth As TVL Nears Solana

Ethereum-based Layer 2 network “Base” has put on an impressive performance yet again, with its Total Value Locked (TVL) coming close to one of the most notable blockchains.

Coinbase’s BASE Has Outperformed Solana

Coinbase’s layer 2 blockchain network, Base, has seen an upward trajectory movement since it was introduced to the public, outperforming some of the notable blockchains in the crypto market. The network is now drawing close to Solana in terms of TVL, indicating remarkable growth within the network.

Data from DeFiLlama shows that the blockchain network now sits a little above $407 million in TVL, while Solana sits a little above $650 million in TVL. The uptick in Base’s TVL is due to the significant number of users and developers currently settling on Base for their decentralized applications (dApps) and other financial protocols. 

Coinbase BASE Solana

The blockchain network also managed to surpass Solana in terms of transaction volume and number of unique addresses. In the past two months, the blockchain network has experienced an immense increase in transaction volume and number of unique addresses more than that of Solana. Data from IntoTheBlock shows an impressive increase of 1.88 million daily transactions on September 16, 2023.

Base’s immense increase in transaction volume and number of unique addresses can be traced back to the growing user base of Base’s Friend.tech, a social platform that allows users to buy and sell shares in public figures.

“In just 2 months, Coinbase’s Base L2 has skyrocketed, topping the charts in transactions and unique addresses. Much of this growth is fueled by the new social app, FriendTech,” IntoTheBlock stated on X.

Base operates as a layer 2 network on Ethereum that came about due to the combined effort from Coinbase and Optimism. Incubated by Coinbase, Base was created to provide its users with a faster transaction process, improved scalability, and lower gas fees.

Currently, Base surpassing Solana in transaction volume, and the number of unique addresses is one of the most impressive achievements of the blockchain network, due to Solana being one of the most notable blockchains in the crypto ecosystem known for its speed and scalability.

During the first week of its mainnet launch, the blockchain network also surpassed Cardano in terms of TVL, transaction speed, and number of successful transactions. The blockchain saw more successful transactions in one week than Cardano’s successful transactions in one month.

Solana SOL price chart from Tradingview.com (Coinbase BASE TVL)

Social App Friend.tech Attributed To Base’s Achievements

You can’t rule out Friend.tech when talking about Base’s achievement in the crypto market. The social app is well-known among users and investors and has become an eminent topic of discussion in the community.

During its official launch on August 10, 2023, the invite-only social app recorded over 4,400 ETH ($8.1 million) in trading volume in just 24 hours after its launch. The social app has also reportedly accumulated more than 130,000 daily users since its release. Base also saw a surge in Transactions Per Second (TPS) as more investors engaged in the social app.