According to @jessepollak, a major trend is emerging where every fintech and crypto exchange is expected to launch its own Layer-2 (L2) blockchain within the next five years, a prediction made by Sam McIngvale, head of product at OP Labs. McIngvale cites the runaway success of Coinbase's L2 network, Base, built using Optimism's (OP) OP Stack, as the primary catalyst. The key trading implication is the ability for firms to monetize dormant crypto assets; for instance, Coinbase can move a customer's Bitcoin (BTC) to Base and facilitate loans against it using stablecoins like USDC. This model is creating a 'Base envy' effect, with exchanges such as Kraken, Bybit, Bitget, and OKX already developing their own L2 solutions to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs on the Ethereum (ETH) network.