Coinbase Base App Ends Creator Rewards Program
- Creator Rewards program ends as focus shifts to trading.
- 17,000 creators affected by funding cessation.
- Trading efficiency prioritized on Base Layer 2 network.
Base App by Coinbase, a self-custody wallet on the Base Layer 2 network, will cease its Creator Rewards program on February 15, 2026, focusing instead on trading activities.
This pivot highlights Base App’s strategic focus on trading, impacting 17,000 creators, but ensuring trading instruments like Creator Coins and Mini Apps remain core offerings.
The Base App from Coinbase will discontinue its Creator Rewards program to focus on trading tradable assets. Jesse Pollak, Head of Base, announced this change, citing a need for a singular focus. Pollak remarked, “The app needs to have one primary focus, and that thing is trading.”
Jesse Pollak, leading the Base App strategy, confirmed that the rewards program ends this Sunday, February 15, 2026. The shift prioritizes trading on Base, an Ethereum ETH +0.00% Layer 2 network, impacting creators using the app.
The decision affects approximately 17,000 creators who participated in the program, receiving an average of $26 each. With final payments due on February 18, the funding for creators ceases, redirecting resources to trading functions.
Though the Creator Rewards program ends, the Base App continues to support trading and holds an emphasis on Creator Coins and Mini Apps. This pivot echoes a broader industry maturity from SocialFi experimentation to financial-focused operations.
Despite the program’s cessation, support for the Farcaster ecosystem continues without change. Pollak highlighted the need for fewer but more focused initiatives within the app. “We realized we needed to focus on doing fewer things better,” Pollak said, reinforcing the pivot to financial primitives.
The decision aligns with historical trends where blockchains enhance financial activities over social features. Rob Hadick from Dragonfly Capital remarked on this shift, noting it reflects the industry’s aim for efficient money movement.
