Base token price manipulation has become a topic of significant discussion lately. Base, a Coinbase-backed Layer 2 network, has been at the center of this debate following comments made by its creator, Jesse Pollak. Pollak made it clear that the Base core team does not support token price inflation tactics, emphasizing that the network is committed to fostering an environment where price discovery remains organic and transparent. He noted that such manipulative practices could disadvantage other tokens, erode trust, and potentially violate legal standards, aligning with Base’s dedication to free and open market principles.
Jesse Pollak stated that the Base core team will not “support the chart behind the scenes” if that means privately coordinating and deploying capital to actively drive the price of an asset up to reach a specific outcome. He said the team would not engage in behind-the-scenes coordination or capital deployment intended to push token prices toward predetermined targets. Pollak framed this refusal as a formal stance by the Base core team against covert price-pushing activities.
Pollak said privately coordinating price moves would disadvantage other tokens and undermine trust in the ecosystem. He stated such actions would violate Base’s commitment to free and open markets and said they would likely be illegal. Pollak linked these concerns to Base’s broader principles for how the network should function.
Pollak emphasized that price discovery on Base must remain organic and transparent. He suggested that open systems such as competitions or clearly defined liquidity programs could be explored if implemented publicly and fairly. Pollak also reiterated Base’s promotion of openness and governance and its aim to highlight activity across the ecosystem.
Base operates in a dynamic market environment characterized by both opportunities and challenges. A significant factor in this landscape is the absence of a flagship token that could attract and sustain speculative investor interest. This absence places the Base network in a unique position compared to other blockchain ecosystems that leverage such tokens for market momentum.
In 2025, the network faced considerable backlash following the dramatic rise and fall of a token minted on Zora which surged to $17.1 million before experiencing a 90% crash. This event highlighted the volatility and risks present in Base’s market transactions. Furthermore, a livestream host pointed out that Base seems unable to single-handedly elevate a project to a substantial market capitalization, indicating limitations in its influence on speculative markets.
Research into Base’s market activities revealed that many newly launched tokens on its platform suffered from security flaws, including honeypot contracts and unlocked liquidity. These vulnerabilities have led to significant financial losses for retail traders, undermining confidence in new token offerings on the network. Collectively, these factors contribute to the challenges Base faces in fostering a stable and secure trading environment while promoting transparency and organic growth in its market ecosystem.
Base app is moving toward a more trading-oriented experience to highlight activity across the ecosystem. Base has promoted openness and governance and aims to highlight activity across the ecosystem. The project has described product changes that focus on surfacing trading activity across builders and apps. These developments are presented as part of Base’s stated effort to make ecosystem activity more visible.
Jesse Pollak suggested that open systems, such as competitions or clearly defined liquidity programs, could be explored if they are implemented publicly and fairly. He emphasized that price discovery must remain organic and transparent. Pollak framed these options as alternatives to private coordination or capital deployment to push token prices. He linked the consideration of public programs to Base’s commitments to free and open markets.
Pollak reiterated that Base aims to support builders, apps, and memes on the platform. He stated the Base core team will not privately coordinate or deploy capital to push token prices and will not “support the chart behind the scenes.” Pollak said privately coordinating price moves would disadvantage other tokens, undermine trust, and likely be illegal. He underscored the network’s stance against engaging in price pumping while continuing to promote openness and governance.
Base’s core team and its creator, Jesse Pollak, have stated that they will not support token price manipulation and will not ‘support the chart behind the scenes’ by privately coordinating or deploying capital to inflate token prices. Pollak framed this stance as consistent with Base’s commitment to free and open markets and governance, and he emphasized that price discovery on Base must remain organic and transparent.
The platform faces challenges including the absence of a flagship token to sustain speculative interest, a 2025 incident where a token minted on Zora surged to $17.1 million and then crashed 90%, and research finding security flaws such as honeypot contracts and unlocked liquidity in many newly launched Base tokens that resulted in losses for retail traders.
A livestream host also stated that Base cannot push any project to very large market capitalizations, which Pollak and the core team cite when rejecting private price-pushing. Base is therefore pursuing an approach that highlights ecosystem activity and trading while promoting openness and governance, and it rejects covert market interventions.
