Coinbase Wallet users will soon have access to a new “Tap to Pay” crypto feature, designed to compete with popular fast-payment platforms like Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal. Jesse Pollak, Coinbase Wallet lead and founder of Ethereum’s layer-2 network Base, announced the upcoming feature at DevCon in Bangkok on November 13, noting that it is already in internal testing and will roll out widely “very soon.”
Tap-to-Pay Feature Brings Crypto Payments to Global Merchants
Pollak envisions Tap to Pay as a breakthrough for merchants, particularly those currently using digital payment platforms with higher transaction fees. The new feature promises faster, global payments that Coinbase aims to make accessible to users in 50 countries by the end of 2025.
“We’re providing a better, faster, and more global tap-to-pay experience,” Pollak said. Coinbase Wallet will also allow users to link their bank accounts, supporting both on-chain spending and stablecoin payments, such as USD Coin (USDC). This move will allow merchants and users to access a more affordable payment option, bypassing traditional banking fees and currency conversion.
Driving Adoption of Stablecoin Payments
The Coinbase team is working to grow stablecoin economies, as these have yet to gain widespread adoption. Pollak believes that once merchants recognize the savings and efficiency of crypto payments, adoption will rapidly increase. With bank account integration and on-chain financial solutions, Coinbase Wallet aims to become a comprehensive tool for saving, spending, and investing in crypto.
Solving Layer-2 Interoperability: Base’s Vision for a Seamless Crypto Experience
In addition to Tap to Pay, Pollak shared that Base is close to addressing a major challenge in the Ethereum ecosystem: layer-2 interoperability. Currently, the various Ethereum layer-2 networks—like Base, Arbitrum, and OP Mainnet—function in silos, creating complications for users moving assets between chains. Pollak expects a solution within the next six months, with two new Ethereum standards paving the way:
- ERC-7683: This interoperability standard will simplify cross-chain transfers.
- RIP-7755: This will allow secure, trustless transactions between layer-2 chains.
With these specifications, users will have a unified experience, where Coinbase Wallet can execute transactions across all Ethereum layer-2 networks seamlessly. Pollak projects that, following the successful integration of ERC-7683 and RIP-7755, the system will support transfers between Base and other Ethereum L2s like Arbitrum One and Blast, securing a vast ecosystem valued at over $42 billion, according to L2BEAT data.
Expanding Beyond Ethereum to Layer-1 Networks
Once layer-2 interoperability is established, Base plans to extend its functionality to other layer-1 blockchains. This expansion would allow users to store assets on Base while conducting transactions across a broad array of blockchain networks, giving users more flexibility and opening new use cases in decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and beyond.
