How Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Is Powering the Next Chapter for Base Network
The Ethereum ecosystem took a major leap forward on May 7 with the launch of the long-anticipated Pectra upgrade. For Base Network, Coinbase’s Layer-2 blockchain, this marks the beginning of a bold new era in scalability and usability.
In a recent conversation, Jesse Pollak — Head of Base and Protocols at Coinbase — detailed how the Pectra upgrade is accelerating Base’s roadmap, doubling transaction throughput and ushering in a new generation of smart wallets.
Doubling Throughput: More Blobs, More Speed
At the heart of the Pectra upgrade is an increase in Ethereum’s blob capacity — small data containers essential to Layer-2 scalability. The network has moved from processing 3–6 blobs per block to 6–9, a change that could double transaction capacity for rollups like Base.
“The Pectra upgrade will double Ethereum’s capability to secure L2 transactions,” said Pollak. “This means the ecosystem will have the potential to process 2x more transactions per second, keeping fees low as more activity comes onchain.”
Launched in 2023, Base has quickly grown into a major player among Ethereum’s Layer-2 networks. It recently surpassed Arbitrum in terms of total value secured (TVS), a key metric in blockchain adoption.
Pollak confirmed that the Base team is now pushing for a new milestone: achieving 250 Mgas/s in blockspace throughput — an aggressive target that could position Base as a high-performance leader in the Ethereum landscape.
Smart Wallets, Seamless Upgrades
One of Pectra’s most innovative features is EIP-7702, which enables a smooth upgrade path from traditional wallets to smart wallets — without changing addresses or losing asset histories.
Previously, users had to create new smart contract wallets to access features like gas sponsorship or advanced permissions. Now, they can upgrade existing wallets, maintaining the same address while unlocking more powerful functionality.
“Pectra allows users to move from a landline to a smartphone — without changing their number,” Pollak explained.
This upgrade plays directly into Base’s long-term strategy. In mid-2024, Pollak hinted at a forthcoming “dream wallet” — a next-gen tool designed to outperform both traditional web2 and on-chain wallets in security and usability.
Pectra Is Just the Beginning
While Pectra is a game-changer, Base isn’t stopping there. Pollak pointed to Ethereum’s upcoming Fusaka upgrade as the next major scaling milestone. Expected to deliver even greater blob capacity, Fusaka could further reduce transaction costs and widen access to the on-chain economy.
Pollak stressed Base’s active contribution to Ethereum’s development: “We contributed to this upgrade through deep technical R&D, as well as community evangelism.”
Base’s growth trajectory supports his optimism. As of mid-May, the network’s total value locked (TVL) climbed to $3.705 billion — up 21% since the Pectra launch. Decentralized exchange (DEX) volume also saw an uptick, a sign of growing trust and liquidity in the ecosystem.