Vitalik Buterin challenges Coinbase-controlled Base as Ethereum roadmap sidelines branded layer-2 shards

On Feb. 3, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin outlined a revised roadmap that de-emphasizes "branded shard" rollups and questions the role of corporate-controlled layer-2 networks like Coinbase-backed Base. Base, launched in August 2023, has secured over $11 billion in value and generated more than $75 million in 2025 revenue, but faces growing pressure from Ethereum's push for lower L1 costs and higher decentralization standards. The network's reliance on centralized sequencing and upgrade control now sits at the center of a broader debate about long-term economic sustainability and trustless scaling.