Solana News Today: Base Surpasses Solana in Token Launches Amid SocialFi Surge

Base, Ethereum's Layer 2 network, is challenging Solana’s dominance in token launches, with a surge in SocialFi activity propelling it to the top of the industry’s leaderboard [1]. The growth has been fueled by the integration of social tools like Zora into Coinbase’s Base App, which was rebranded on July 16 to create a hub for content creation and tokenization [2]. The move led to a sharp increase in token activity, with Base recording 7,557 new token launches on July 16 and tripling that number to 22,098 just one day later [3].

Zora quickly outpaced Solana-based platforms such as Pump.fun and LetsBonk. By July 23, Zora had 38,254 token launches, surpassing the combined total of 29,012 from Solana’s memecoin platforms [4]. The rapid rise has drawn comparisons to Solana’s own memecoin boom, which has seen the launch of tens of thousands of tokens with limited liquidity and long-term value [5].

However, Solana still leads in broader activity metrics, including transaction volume and user engagement, thanks to its mature liquidity pools and established DeFi infrastructure [6]. While Base demonstrated its potential by reaching a peak of 959 transactions per second (TPS) during a high-volume token launch, Solana is working on performance enhancements like Firedancer, which in internal tests has achieved up to 1 million TPS [7].

Critics remain skeptical about the sustainability of Zora's token economy. Brian Huang, co-founder of Glider, noted that most Zora tokens lack liquidity, trapping creators and fans in potentially worthless assets [8]. Similar issues have plagued Pump.fun, where nearly 99% of tokens fail to gain significant traction [9]. Despite this, Alexander Cutler of Aerodrome, a decentralized exchange on Base, argued that Zora is attracting non-crypto-native users through social media-like incentives, creating a unique value proposition [10].

Zora’s appeal has extended to influential figures in the crypto space, including Ansem, a key investor and influencer in the memecoin community [11]. The platform has positioned Base as a content-driven blockchain, offering a distinct niche compared to Solana's transaction-focused model [12]. However, for Base to sustain its growth, it must evolve from a novelty-driven platform into one with real liquidity, long-term user engagement, and applications that can retain attention beyond the initial hype [13].

While Base has shown impressive short-term momentum, Solana’s years of ecosystem development provide a strong foundation that is difficult to replicate quickly. The challenge for Base lies in converting viral moments into a sustainable and valuable on-chain environment [14].

Source:

[1] [Is Zora turning Ethereum L2 Base into a Solana killer?](https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689c9802eb83fa2493c37fdb/)