Base is a secure, low-cost, builder-friendly Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) solution designed to bring the next billion users onchain. Developed and incubated within Coinbase, Base is built on the MIT-licensed OP Stack, in collaboration with Optimism, with a goal to progressively decentralize in the coming years. By leveraging Base, developers have an opportunity to provide users with a robust Ethereum L2 environment at a fraction of the cost.
The Base API allows developers to interface with the Base mainnet and testnet nodes. With this API, you can execute transactions, query onchain data, and interact with the Base network, relying on a JSON-RPC standard.
Explained in Base API Quickstart
Yes. Base is built as an Ethereum L2, which means it supports any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) codebase. This allows you to deploy and migrate assets from Ethereum L1 and other interoperable chains to Base.
Base utilizes the JSON-RPC API standard. This API is crucial for any blockchain interaction on the Base network, allowing you to read block/transaction data, query chain information, execute smart contracts, and store data onchain.
When accessing the Base network via a node provider like Alchemy, you use an API key to send transactions and retrieve data from the network.
For the best development experience, we recommend that you sign up for a free API key!
Common Ethereum libraries like ethers.js and web3.js should be compatible with Base, given its EVM nature.
Languages that work with Ethereum, such as JavaScript, Solidity, TypeScript, and Shell, should also be compatible with Base. Solidity remains the primary choice for smart contract development, while JavaScript is ideal for offchain interactions.
The primary currency for transaction fees and other network activities on Base is ETH.
Use the Base Sepolia testnet for Base. This testnet provides an environment to deploy smart contracts, execute transactions, and test applications. Get free Base Sepolia ETH from the Alchemy Base Sepolia faucet. For limits and eligibility, see Testnet faucets.
You can find the list of all the methods Alchemy supports for the Base API on the Base API Endpoints page.
Base no longer runs its own bridge app. To bridge ETH and ERC-20 tokens between Ethereum and Base, use one of the bridges listed on the Base bridges page. These bridges support Base Mainnet and Base Sepolia.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us at [email protected] or open a ticket in the Alchemy Dashboard.