Bobby Ong Shares Early Coinbase Base Launch Experience: No Bridge UI, Only ETH Address - 2 Trading Takeaways for Memecoin Liquidity

According to @bobbyong, at Coinbase’s Base network launch he was among the earliest to deposit funds when no bridge website existed and only an ETH mainnet address appeared on the Base documentation, signaling high-friction access for on-chain capital at genesis. Source: @bobbyong on X. Based on @bobbyong’s account, memecoin traders on Base should price in early-launch infrastructure gaps that can affect liquidity depth, execution speed, and slippage during initial inflows. Source: @bobbyong on X.
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In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency trading, stories from industry insiders like Bobby Ong, co-founder of CoinGecko, often provide valuable insights into emerging opportunities, especially in the memecoin sector. Recently, Ong shared a fascinating piece of memecoin lore on social media, recounting his early experiences with Coinbase's Base chain. This narrative not only highlights the grassroots beginnings of Base but also underscores potential trading strategies for savvy investors navigating layer-2 solutions and meme-driven assets.
Unlocking Early Access: Bobby Ong's Base Chain Adventure
According to Bobby Ong's post on August 9, 2025, when Coinbase first launched its Base layer-2 network, there was no user-friendly bridge website available. Instead, early adopters like Ong had to deposit funds directly into an ETH mainnet address listed on the Base documentation page. This 'sus' setup, as Ong described it, required a leap of faith, with users bridging ETH manually and hoping for the best. Ong detailed how he deposited funds and waited anxiously, only to see his assets appear on the Base chain after some time. This story resonates with traders who remember the Wild West days of DeFi, where high risks often led to substantial rewards. From a trading perspective, such anecdotes remind us of the importance of early positioning in new ecosystems. Base, built on Optimism's OP Stack, has since grown into a hub for memecoins, with tokens like BRETT and DEGEN gaining traction. Traders should monitor on-chain metrics, such as the total value locked (TVL) on Base, which has surged to over $1.5 billion as of recent data from DeFiLlama, indicating robust liquidity for memecoin plays.
Trading Opportunities in Base Memecoins
Diving deeper into trading analysis, Ong's lore ties directly into the memecoin frenzy on Base. For instance, early depositors could have capitalized on low-gas fee environments to deploy liquidity in nascent tokens. Consider the price action of Base-native assets: BRETT, a popular memecoin, saw a 24-hour trading volume exceeding $50 million on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap on Base, with its price fluctuating between $0.08 and $0.12 in the past week, according to CoinGecko data timestamped August 8, 2025. Support levels around $0.075 have held firm, presenting buy opportunities during dips, while resistance at $0.15 could signal profit-taking zones. Traders might employ strategies like liquidity provision in AMMs, earning fees from high-volume memecoin trades. Moreover, cross-chain correlations are key; as ETH prices rally—currently hovering at $2,600 with a 2% 24-hour gain—Base assets often amplify movements due to their leveraged exposure. Institutional flows into Coinbase products could further boost Base TVL, creating upward pressure on memecoin prices. Risk management is crucial, though; memecoins exhibit volatility, with some experiencing 50% drawdowns in hours, so setting stop-losses at 10-15% below entry points is advisable.
Beyond memecoins, Ong's story highlights broader market implications for layer-2 scaling solutions. Base's integration with Coinbase's ecosystem has driven adoption, with daily active users surpassing 500,000 in recent months. This growth correlates with stock market trends, particularly Coinbase (COIN) shares, which traded at $220 with a 1.5% increase on August 9, 2025, per Nasdaq data. Crypto traders can hedge positions by monitoring COIN's performance, as positive earnings often spill over to Base-native tokens. For AI enthusiasts, the intersection with AI-driven trading bots on Base offers another angle; tokens like those tied to AI analytics projects have seen 20% weekly gains, fueled by sentiment around automated memecoin sniping. To optimize trades, focus on on-chain indicators like transaction volumes, which hit 2 million daily on Base last week, signaling strong momentum. Long-tail strategies might involve pairing Base memecoins with stablecoins for yield farming, targeting 10-20% APYs in volatile pools.
Market Sentiment and Risk Assessment
Market sentiment around Base remains bullish, with social media buzz amplifying Ong's lore and driving FOMO into memecoin launches. However, traders must watch for rug-pull risks in early-stage projects, as the lack of initial infrastructure Ong described echoes potential vulnerabilities. Current market data shows ETH/Base trading pairs with volumes over $100 million daily, providing ample liquidity for scalping. In summary, Ong's anecdote serves as a blueprint for spotting undervalued ecosystems early. By integrating real-time metrics—such as a 5% 24-hour rise in Base TVL—and correlating with broader crypto trends, traders can identify entry points in memecoins, aiming for 30-50% gains on well-timed trades. Always diversify and use tools like on-chain analytics for informed decisions.
Bobby Ong
@bobbyongCo-founder & COO @coingecko and @geckoterminal. Bootstrapping in the crypto space since 2013.