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Building on Base: Creators Edition 🎨🔵

A quick guide on what it means to mint and list your artwork and/or content "onchain," what the benefits are, and why many creators are building on Base specifically.

Hello, my loves 🎉

I have wanted to create an article on this topic for quite some time, so here we are!

After being asked to speak in multiple X spaces, podcasts and live streams about this, I felt it would be wise to have it all written down so you'll have something to revert to when needed!

Whether you're new to crypto, blockchain, NFTs, onchain economy, etc., this article is for everyone, whether you're an artist, content creator, etc.

I hope it can guide you no matter where you're on your journey because Base is for everyone; let me show you why.

Let's start with the basics:


What does onchain mean?

Something that is recorded (or, in other words, minted) directly on the blockchain.

Ex) art, music, podcast, article, video, etc.

What is a blockchain?

Think of a blockchain as a digital record book that permanently records transactions across a network without a central authority. 📖

Your records are stored on multiple databases that are chained together ⛓, making them unhackable and impossible to change or delete — i.e., highly transparent.

There are currently three layers of blockchain:

  • L1 (Layer 1): The main blockchain network.

  • L2 (Layer 2): Solutions that improve the scalability of L1.

  • L3 (Layer 3): An emerging concept that offers more specialized use cases and enhanced scalability.

In this article, we will focus mainly on L2. However, to understand L2, it's essential to understand what L1 is.

L1 blockchains:

  • The base layer, meaning they are the core network that processes and records transactions directly.

  • They manage the entire blockchain's security, consensus, and data.

  • They often have scalability challenges because all transactions are processed directly on the main chain, resulting in slower processing times and high transaction (gas) fees when the network gets congested.

Examples of L1 blockchains we all recognize are: EthereumBitcoinSolana, etc.

L2 blockchains:

  • They are built on top of L1s to make them faster, cheaper, and more scalable.

  • They help improve transaction speed, reduce gas fees, and simplify the network.

  • They do this by processing transactions on their network, but they store the data on the L1 blockchain for security.

  • They work as an extension of L1, processing transactions off the main chain.

Examples of L2 blockchains include Optimism, Base, Shape, and Zora.

Leading us to ask...

What is Base?

Base is a secure, lost cost and builder-friendly L2 of Ethereum L1 - built on OP Stack and incubated by Coinbase.

Base's core mission is to bring the next billion users onchain to increase economic freedom, drive innovation, unleash creativity, and create a global onchain economy.

It offers the best features of Ethereum but is 10-100 times cheaper because, to make on-chain access available to everyone, fees need to be low (under 1 cent) and ensure transactions are processed fast (in less than 1 second) and Base is doing just that.

OP Stack is a standardized, shared, and open-source development stack that powers Optimism (another L2 blockchain) and is essentially a toolkit for building L2 blockchains.

These blockchains come together in a Superchain (see dashed circle), a network that shares tools, rules, and systems to ensure smooth operation.

Please refer to the image (made by yours truly) above to visualize how they all work together and separately. ⬆


Why should creators mint and list their work onchain?

I've been advocating for creators, both inside and outside the crypto space, to mint and list their work on-chain for years, and here's why:

  • Proof of Ownership: Blockchain verifies ownership, proving your work is yours.

  • Immutable Records: Once minted, records are permanent and can't be altered (even after we pass, it will still be there!)

  • Global Reach: On-chain marketplaces provide worldwide exposure.

  • Royalties: Smart contracts automate royalties, ensuring creators are paid for resales — something that’s nearly impossible in the traditional art market.

  • Direct Engagement: Minting on-chain enables direct relationships with collectors, bypassing intermediaries (yay for no middleman!)

  • Community Building: It's very easy to connect with like-minded creators and collectors (and yes, creators can be collectors, too!).

  • Credibility: On-chain minting verifies authenticity and builds trust.

  • Opportunities to Be Exhibited: Being on-chain offers more opportunities for exhibitions, making it easier to be discovered than in traditional art markets.

& much, much more!

Together, these benefits empower creators to protect their work, expand their reach, and thrive in a global onchain economy.

Why should creators build on Base, specifically?

"Building on Base" simply means contributing to bringing the world on-chain.

This can take many forms;

  • Content creators, artists, musicians, designers, community leaders, coaches, coordinators, educators, translators, influencers, developers, etc.

Regardless of your role/s, your contributions are vital to building the new onchain economy, which relies on everyone working together to succeed.

Base's culture values collaboration and innovation, creating a space where everyone has something meaningful to contribute.

With that said, each blockchain has its own culture and multiple communities, so it’s best to research which ones align with your values and needs as a creator.


Although there are many blockchains, Base has become a popular L2 choice for creators to mint their work for many reasons.

  1. Trust and Reliability: Base is incubated by Coinbase, one of crypto's most prominent and trusted names. This backing gives creators confidence in the security and stability of their assets and reassurance that Base is less likely to disappear.

  2. Access to Users: By leveraging Coinbase’s massive user base, creators can reach a wider audience, including those new to on-chain experiences. For example, a creator's work could be featured on the Coinbase Wallet front page, increasing discoverability.

  3. Lower Transaction (Gas) Fees: Base offers significantly lower transaction costs compared to Layer 1 blockchains like Ethereum, which means creators can mint their art onchain, execute smart contracts, and interact with dApps without incurring high fees (literally cents)

  4. Scalability: As an L2, Base is designed to handle more transactions efficiently, resulting in faster and smoother UI/UX experiences for creators and their audiences.

  5. Ethereum Security: Since Base is built on top of Ethereum, it inherits Ethereum’s security, meaning creators benefit from Ethereum’s robust security with the added scalability of an L2 solution.

  6. Support for Creators: Base has been designed with creators in mind, providing resources, grants, and opportunities to support creative projects. This has attracted artists, musicians, developers, and creators interested in building on-chain.

  7. Community Support: Base benefits from solid community initiatives, with active engagement from creators, global community leaders, and developers working together to support each other and grow the ecosystem.

  8. NFT Marketplace & Social App Integration: Base is supported on popular NFT marketplaces and onchain social apps, including OpenSea, Foundation, Transient Labs, Remx, Magic Eden, Zora, Rodeo, Moshi, Drakula, etc., giving creators multiple places to showcase and sell their work.

Overall, it offers an environment for creators to thrive by providing the technical infrastructure, lower fees and community support needed for success.

Note: While Base leverages Ethereum's decentralized infrastructure, it is not entirely decentralized yet.

Coinbase has expressed a commitment to progressively decentralize Base over time. A significant step in this direction was the recent introduction of fault proofs, which aim to enhance the network's security and reduce reliance on a single entity. Despite these efforts, Base remains under Coinbase's control, with complete decentralization being a future goal.


Smart Contracts:

As mentioned above, there is an extensive list of marketplaces and onchain social apps where Base is supported that creators can utilize.

However, it is crucial to recognize that not all of these options include the ability to record (mint) our assets (in this case, our art, content, etc.) on our own smart contract/s (yet).

What is a smart contract?

A smart contract is a digital agreement on the blockchain that automatically follows the rules written into it. It works like a computer program — if certain conditions are met, it performs actions independently.

The content/artwork gets recorded onto the smart contract through a process called "minting."

  1. Minting turns the content/artwork into âž¡ a token on the blockchain.

  2. The smart contract records the ownership details, rules (like royalties), and links to the work that you set up.

  3. The work is usually stored off-chain, while the smart contract manages how it's bought, sold, and tracked.

There are different kinds of smart contracts; the most common are:

  • ERC-721: Known for unique 1 of 1 artwork and collectibles.

  • ERC-1155: Known for editions, allowing multiple copies of the same asset (artwork/content)

  • ERC-7160 (via Transient Labs): Enables multi-metadata functionality, allowing each onchain piece to be associated with multiple pieces of digital content, creating a dynamic and evolving experience for creators and collectors.

Why is it important to mint our work onto our own smart contract/s?

  1. Full Control: You have complete control over your assets, including how it's sold and how royalties are handled, without relying on third parties.

  2. Guaranteed Royalties: With your own smart contract, you can ensure that royalties are always paid directly to you on resales on the secondary market even across different marketplaces.

  3. Brand Identity: Adds credibility and builds your brand, showing collectors that you own your entire process and making your work more professional.

  4. Interoperability: Your artwork can move more freely across different platforms and marketplaces rather than being restricted to a specific platform's shared contract.

  5. Customization: You can customize terms, features, and rules that suit your needs as an artist rather than being limited by a generic shared contract on marketplaces.

  6. Safety: If a marketplace shuts down, work created on a shared contract could be lost, but your own smart contract ensures its safety.

It is never a bad idea to spread your wings and mint your work on multiple platforms (and across various blockchains), even if there is no option to mint on your own smart contract. There is a time and place, and only you, as a creator, can make the best decisions for your work, portfolio and brand.

Platforms that Support Base:

The following popular platforms allow you to create your own smart contracts, along with listing them for sale as an option:

  1. Manifold

  2. Transient Labs

The following popular platforms allow you list your work with your own smart contract:

  1. Highlight

  2. Opensea

The following popular platforms/social onchain apps allow you to mint/list on their shared contract only:

  1. Zora

  2. Coinbase Wallet

  3. Foundation

  4. Magic Eden

  5. SYKY

  6. Remx

  7. Rodeo

  8. Moshi

  9. Drakula

Each offers a different user experience; my recommendation is to try them all out, see which ones fit your needs, and enjoy them more!

Note: some are invite only


How do I get started on Base as a creator/artist?

Wallet Setup

First, you’ll need a crypto wallet that supports Base, and you'll need to purchase some Base ETH to pay for transaction (gas) fees when minting, listing, and collecting.

My Wallet Recommendations:

  • Coinbase Wallet 🙂 (of course)

  • MetaMask

  • Rainbow

Each wallet has its unique UI/UX experience, but if you want simplicity and a smooth onboarding experience, I recommend Coinbase Wallet. It’s ideal for creators just getting started.

Fastest Way to Set Up a Wallet:

  1. Go to wallet.coinbase.com to set up a Coinbase "smart wallet." This type of wallet doesn’t require a secret seed phrase but uses a passkey, making setup quick and user-friendly.

  2. Click on "Connect" at the top right of the website.

  3. A popup will appear. Click "Sign Up" and follow the instructions.

Alternatively, you can download the Coinbase Wallet app on mobile, which allows you to create a wallet using a secret seed phrase — be sure to store this phrase securely and keep it hidden.

You can also choose other crypto wallets, such as MetaMask or Rainbow, as long as they support Base.

Once your wallet is ready, you'll need to purchase some ETH on the Base network.

Tip: If you have friends in the crypto space, they may be willing to send you some Base ETH to get started. It doesn't take much — less than $2 USD will cover the minting and listing fees on Base, as transactions only cost a few cents.

Get Your Content/Artwork Ready:

  • Physical Artwork: If your work is physical, take a high-quality photograph of it. The image will be tokenized and uploaded to the blockchain.

  • Digital Artwork: If your work is digital, ensure the file size and format are compatible with the platform you’ll be minting on. This is important to ensure that your art appears correctly.

Select Platforms:

As I mentioned above, you can mint your work through various platforms and onchain social apps.

Research each platform to find the ones that align with your goals, strategy, and brand as an artist. However, don't be afraid to experiment — trying different platforms can help you find what works best.

Promote Your Work:

Promotion is key to gaining visibility once your art is minted and listed. Here are some tips:

  • Engage with creators, builders, and communities on social media apps such as Twitter, Warpcast, etc., to build a network of supporters before promoting your work.

  • Once you’ve established a rapport, share your listings on social media platforms to reach potential collectors.

Determine Your Motivation and Goals:

As a creator in the onchain economy, it’s essential to be clear about your motivation and goals. This means regularly reflecting on the following:

  • Who to Interact With: Identify key communities, creators, collectors, and builders that align with your values and goals and build genuine connections with them.

  • What Platforms to Mint On: Choose the platforms that best fit your art style, audience, and brand, ensuring they align with your overall strategy as an artist.

  • Where to Spend Energy and Time: Prioritize activities that will have the most significant impact, whether promoting your work, engaging with communities, or creating new work.

  • When to Take a Break: Recognize the importance of rest and avoid burnout. Taking breaks helps maintain creativity and keeps your work sustainable in the long term.

  • How to Reach Your Goals: Set clear goals, whether they’re about growing your collector base, improving your skills, or expanding your reach, and outline actionable steps to achieve them.

Understanding these aspects will help you effectively manage your time, focus on what matters most, and make your work more visible to the right audience.

Getting your work on Base is a step toward joining the growing on-chain creator economy — embrace the journey, and don't hesitate to explore and experiment!


How to get more involved with Base

Beyond minting your work onchain with Base, many other ways exist to participate, collaborate, and earn within the ecosystem. 👀

Galleries:

Nearly every week, Coinbase Wallet launches a new public gallery where creators can mint their work based on a specific theme. Minting is free, and you can be featured on the front page, exposing your work to thousands of users!

Rounds:

Is a platform that helps developers and builders in the Ethereum ecosystem find earning opportunities, especially on L2 Base.

It aims to recognize innovation and support community contributions.

Warpcast:

It is a decentralized app for Farcaster, a new social network connecting an ever-growing community of curious people worldwide.

You can curate the communities/channels you want to be part of.

Some channels to follow/be a member of to be engaged with the Base ecosystem:

  1. /base

  2. /base-builds

  3. /coinbasewallet

Also, finding the base global channel representing your country/region is wise.

Download both apps on your phone to get started! Or use a web browser.


How to Earn on Rounds

Weekly Incentives:

Share a post in the /base-builds channel on Warpcast between Friday and Monday, starting with "This week I built..." to earn a share of 2 ETH if your contribution is curated and well-received. You will receive a message from rounds in Warpcast informing you of your current earnings, which will change as the round continues with more entries.

Here are some examples of contributions:

  1. Educational Resources: Create guides, tutorials, or videos to help newcomers understand and use Base effectively.

    • Writers can produce step-by-step tutorials or threads explaining Base's features and benefits.

    • Developers can share insights about their on-chain projects or apps.

    • Product enthusiasts can develop onchain solutions to real-world problems and provide wireframes and a strategy for implementing them.

  1. Community Engagement: Develop articles and graphics or share updates to keep users informed and engaged in the Base ecosystem.

    • Designers and Technical Writers can create infographics or illustrations that make key updates easy to understand.

    • Community Leaders can share updates about on-chain events to encourage participation, run podcasts, or host X Spaces to grow the community virtually.

  1. Creative Content: Use creative writing, design, or visual art to make Base more relatable and connect with a broader audience.

    • Visual Artists can create pieces for Coinbase Wallet galleries, share them with the community, or launch collections on Base through platforms like Zora or Transient Labs.

    • Content Creators can produce tutorials on minting their work on Base or developing creative frames for Warpcast to make it easier for collectors to acquire artwork.

Note: If you are eligible for earnings, you will receive ETH in the crypto wallet you connected on Warpcast.

Final Conclusion

Building on Base is more than just minting your work onchain. It's about contributing to the ecosystem, creating a thriving community, and embracing collaboration. Whether you're a writer, artist, designer, community leader, content creator, etc., there are plenty of opportunities to show off your skills, support Base's mission, and earn.

Jump in, experiment, and grow as a creator within this vibrant onchain economy!


Some other resources to bookmark and check out:

https://opensea.io/learn/blockchain/what-is-the-zora-network

https://www.coinbase.com/en-ca/developer-platform/discover/protocol-guides/guide-to-base

⬇

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