Base App Backlash Highlights Developer Frustration

[madmax]

Coinbase’s push into on-chain social and creator-focused features via its Base App has sparked backlash from developers who feel sidelined. Many builders argue that the app prioritizes meme-driven or insider-backed projects over serious DeFi, gaming, or infrastructure tools that could strengthen the ecosystem long term.

This frustration has fueled claims that Coinbase is competing with its own developers, favoring internal teams or high-profile endorsements rather than community-driven innovation. For a platform positioning itself as the gateway to the next generation of finance, the perception of uneven support risks driving talent — and trust — elsewhere.