Coinbase’s Base layer 2 blockchain has completed a series of security audits in preparation for its mainnet launch, with the goal of attracting up to 1 million new crypto users. The Nasdaq-listed crypto exchange commissioned a six-month internal audit from its protocol security team, which included auditing all of Optimism’s pre-deployments and smart contracts on both layer 1 and layer 2. The team also used a technique called fuzzing to test the blockchain and the OP stack’s security, injecting malformed code into existing code to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Base also engaged more than 100 external security researchers to find and fix any potential vulnerabilities. Cross-chain bridges, which are used to transfer assets from one blockchain to another, are a common attack vector for hackers and exploiters. Security firm Chainalysis estimated that $2 billion was stolen from crypto bridges in 2022.
Base has not provided a date for when the mainnet will go live, but has stated that it will not feature a native token, unlike other layer 2 blockchains.