Coinbase Restores Wallet Name
Coinbase Restores Original Wallet Name and Expands Focus to Multichain Trading
Anonymous
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Ryan Kass, head of Coinbase Wallet product, said the wallet will serve as a “test kitchen” for assets and products that Coinbase may not list on its centralized exchange. He cited Hyperliquid perpetual futures as an early example and said long-tail tokens can appear once they are minted on supported networks.
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The wallet’s on-chain trading features allow users to follow selected traders and view their activity, which Kass said could help users identify trading opportunities and “gain additional alpha.”
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Coinbase Wallet will automatically detect and hide tokens classified as scams or malicious assets, according to Kass, while remaining self-custodial and leaving control of private keys with users.
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The strategic shift was accompanied by a leadership change: Base creator Jesse Pollak handed control of the app to Jordan “Cobie” Fish in July and returned his focus to the Base blockchain, as Coinbase sought to make the wallet less centered on Base.
Coinbase is bringing back the Coinbase Wallet name for an app it rebranded as Base App just over a year ago. Cryptopolitan reports the company abandoned its failed social-network experiment to focus on self-custodial, multichain trading. Users will keep control of their private keys while gaining quick access to tokenized stocks, meme coins, perpetual futures, and prediction markets across Base, Solana, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.
The shift marks a major strategic pivot. Kryptonews noted that Coinbase announced the change on September 10, 2026, designed for speed and on-chain trading. The Base name will now refer only to Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network, while Coinbase Wallet becomes the broader multichain app.
Why Coinbase Abandoned Its Social Media Experiment
Coinbase launched Base App in July 2025 with messaging and social features at its core. Cryptopolitan reported the experiment failed to gain traction, prompting executives to rethink the product. The company decided self-custodial trading and multichain access mattered more than building a social network. This marks a rare public admission from a major crypto exchange that a major rebranding strategy didn't work.
Coinbase Wallet Becomes a 'Test Kitchen' for New Assets
Ryan Kass, head of Coinbase Wallet product, explained the app will serve as a testing ground for assets Coinbase may never list on its centralized exchange. Hokanews states users can trade assets that don't meet traditional exchange requirements. Kass cited Hyperliquid perpetual futures as an early example. Long-tail tokens can appear on the wallet once they are minted on supported networks.
The wallet includes trader-following features that let users view activity from selected traders to "gain additional alpha," or extra returns. Cryptopolitan notes this social element survives the rebrand but now focuses narrowly on trading insights rather than general social networking. Users stay in full control of their private keys throughout.
Built-In Scam Protection While Keeping Keys Private
Coinbase Wallet will automatically detect and hide tokens classified as scams or malicious assets, Kass confirmed. Cryptopolitan emphasizes the app remains self-custodial, meaning Coinbase never holds user funds or private keys. This protects users from both hacks and the company's own problems. Users get safety guardrails without surrendering control.
Leadership Change Signals Shift Away From Base Blockchain
Base creator Jesse Pollak handed control of the app to Jordan "Cobie" Fish in July, then returned to focus on the Base blockchain itself. Crypto-Economy reports this leadership change reflected Coinbase's goal to make the wallet less tied to Base. The rebrand emphasizes that Coinbase Wallet operates across multiple chains, not just Base. This separation lets each product — the blockchain and the wallet — pursue its own strategy.
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