The Base ecosystem has exploded in 2026, with billions in TVL and hundreds of dApps across DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and more. This guide covers the top projects you need to know — from the largest DEXs to emerging lending protocols.
Base, built on the OP Stack and backed by Coinbase, has become one of the largest Ethereum L2s by TVL and user activity. The ecosystem offers:
These protocols represent the largest and most trusted projects on Base by total value locked:
| Protocol | Type | TVL | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerodrome | DEX | $1.8B | Swaps, LP, voting |
| Moonwell | Lending | $650M | Supply/borrow |
| Compound V3 | Lending | $420M | Blue-chip lending |
| Aave V3 | Lending | $380M | Multi-asset lending |
| Uniswap V3 | DEX | $290M | Concentrated liquidity |
Aerodrome is the #1 DEX by TVL on Base, built on Velodrome's architecture. It's the backbone of Base DeFi.
Key features:
Best for: Liquidity providers seeking high yields, traders needing deep liquidity
The most trusted DEX in crypto, now on Base with concentrated liquidity for capital efficiency.
Best for: Professional traders, concentrated liquidity strategies
A native Base DEX with competitive fees and community governance.
Best for: Base-native token swaps, community members
Moonwell is the largest lending protocol built specifically for Base, offering competitive rates and a clean interface.
Supported assets: ETH, USDC, USDbC, cbETH, wstETH, AERO, and more
Best for: Earning yield on idle assets, borrowing against collateral
The blue-chip lending protocol from Ethereum mainnet, now on Base with improved capital efficiency.
Best for: Conservative lenders wanting battle-tested security
The most feature-rich lending protocol with flash loans, isolation mode, and multi-collateral positions.
Best for: Advanced DeFi users, flash loan strategies
Auto-compounding vaults that optimize yield across Base protocols. Set and forget.
Best for: Passive yield seekers
Veteran yield optimizer with sophisticated strategies on Base.
Best for: Users seeking actively managed strategies
The largest NFT platform on Base, built by the Zora team. Create, collect, and trade NFTs with low fees.
Best for: Artists, collectors, NFT creators
Sci-fi trading card game with play-to-earn mechanics on Base.
Best for: Gamers, TCG enthusiasts
Social NFT platform with creator-friendly features and community focus.
Best for: Social collectors, emerging artists
Our Base bridge guide walks you through every step of moving funds to Base.
Read Bridge GuideBefore interacting with any Base protocol:
All Base DEXs have similar gas fees since they run on the same network. Trading fees vary: Aerodrome (0.05-0.30%), Uniswap (0.05-1%), BaseSwap (0.25%).
Base uses the OP Stack, audited extensively. Top protocols (Compound, Aave, Uniswap) are battle-tested. Always verify contracts and start with small amounts.
LP positions on Aerodrome can yield 15-100% APR (with risk). Lending on Moonwell offers 2-8% APY (lower risk). Always understand impermanent loss before providing liquidity.
Yes, you need ETH for gas fees. However, fees are 90-99% cheaper than Ethereum mainnet — most transactions cost $0.01-0.10.
Yes! Coinbase Wallet has native Base support. You can also use the Coinbase app to bridge to Base, then connect to dApps via WalletConnect.