Coinbase's "Inconsistency Between Words and Actions" Sparks Anger Among Base Developers—Lack of Coherence in Meme Coin Listing Policy

Coinbase has been facing a series of criticisms from developers and traders within the Base ecosystem. The core issue lies in the discrepancy between the company’s proclaimed “open and decentralized vision” and the actual policies regarding token listings and project support.

Contradictions Revealed by Data — Listing Disparities Between Solana and Base

Discussions on X have highlighted the clear point made by trader @rbthreek. While Coinbase listed 11 Solana-based meme coins in 2025, only 3 meme coins from the same Layer-2 network, Base, have been listed.

This difference is more than just numbers. Behind it is the history where CEO Brian Armstrong previously publicly questioned “the essence of meme coins,” only to subsequently list a large number of Solana meme coins. Many of these tokens have since experienced significant declines.

Support for Base projects like Arcadia and Giza, backed by Coinbase Ventures, has also been called into question due to insufficient visible support. Another trader, Turtle, pointed out that the disparity in treatment between initiatives like Zora risks damaging brand trust.

Community Divisions — Mismatch of Expectations

The criticism is not one-sided. User Zk argued that the leadership of Base, including Jesse Pollak, is genuinely supportive, and the real issue lies in differing expectations among participants. Some meme communities focus on short-term price fluctuations and listing timing, while the Base team shifted towards product development last year.

However, user Amy pointed out a more serious situation. The stagnation in exchange listings, competition with Solana memes, delays in decentralized exchange integration, and confusion surrounding creator coins have collectively led to a gradual decline in trust within the Base community.

Armstrong’s Response — Transition to a Marketplace Model

Armstrong responded directly, asserting that Coinbase is currently providing access to millions of tokens through decentralized exchange integration. He emphasized that the platform is not a centralized listing authority but rather a marketplace provider.

For 2026, Coinbase’s priorities include expanding to all exchanges and promoting on-chain onboarding of users through Base.

Creator Coins Highlighting the Issues

The case of creator coins related to YouTuber Nick Shirley, which briefly approached a valuation of $9 million before plummeting 67% in just a few hours, intensified the debate.

The gap between on-chain activity indicated by strong royalty revenue data and the short-term speculative price swings raises fundamental questions: Are meme coins on Base truly driving adoption, or are they just a temporary speculative boom?

While Coinbase’s open marketplace concept is ideal, the lack of consistency in execution has exposed a situation where developer and user trust is being shaken.