The primary network is witnessing an increasing rejection of crypto due to its loud-and-clear advertisement of the Base creator coin model, which is already a cause of concern among the builders in the blockchain ecosystem.
The developers oppose the strategy, saying it gives priority to creator-led narratives while cutting off the long-time contributors who were instrumental in building the technical foundation of the network.
Base, a Layer-2 Blockchain sponsored by Coinbase, has introduced the idea of creator coins as a cultural gate to on-chain participation. The initiative is intended to pull in new users, but detractors argue it will lead to the alienation of the core developers, who are feeling more and more ignored; thus, trust within the developer community will be ruined.

Base network faces crypto backlash over creator coins. [Source: Bitdegree.org]
What Is Driving The Crypto Backlash Against Base Creator Coin?
The unhappiness originates from the viewpoint that Base is only promoting such projects as creator coins, which are more aligned with it, especially projects related to content marketplaces.
Builders are saying that now it seems that visibility, engagement, and official acknowledgement are coming only to those who are in alignment with the narrative and not to those who have made the technical submission. Several developers are complaining about the tiny acknowledgement of the long-running infrastructure projects.
On the other hand, the creator-focused events are being amplified rapidly through the official channels. This disparity has led to accusations of the blockchain-favouring practices within the ecosystem. The proponents of the Base creator coin model assert that cultural adoption is a must for the scaling of blockchain use. They also state that the creator coins reduce the entry barriers and pull in the mainstream audiences who are unaware of decentralised finance.
Is Blockchain Favouritism Undermining Developer Trust?
The notion of blockchain bias has turned out to be the most prominent issue in the discussion. The builders are arguing that equal treatment is an absolute requirement in decentralised environments, where the trust of the users hinges on neutrality and transparency.
Some of the developers think the present strategy is a sign that the project is moving away from merit-based recognition. They are worried that the network may lose long-term innovation by giving priority to visibility over utility.
Others claim that the rival blockchains have kept a balanced support for both the creators and builders all along. This comparison has heightened the fears that Base may have a hard time keeping the technical talent if the mood keeps getting worse.

Blockchain bias dominates debate over decentralised trust. [Source: MDPI]
Base Creator Coin Vision And Cultural Expansion
The management of Base has presented the creator coins as a means of expanding the culture instead of making speculative investments. The model enables the artists to create tokens attached to the content, communities or identities, thus promoting social interaction on the blockchain.
The supporters believe that this is a revolutionary step in blockchain technology adoption. Base is seeking to influence the non-crypto audience by mixing culture with technology.
However, the critics say that the cultural growth has to be in line with, not to replace, developer-first incentives. They warn that network resilience and scalability depend on continuous infrastructure development.
Developer Reaction Signals Growing Ecosystem Tension
Over the last few weeks, there has been quite a visible change in the developer mood. There is a group of builders who are saying aloud that their contributions may not go well with the new directions that Base is taking.
One group of people sharing their point of view about the matter is the disenchanted builders who think they will lose motivation to create if the recognition in rewards are selective. Another group of worry includes those who think that the very important backend development may get less attention than it deserves because of the focus on creator coins.
Notwithstanding these developments, Base is still recording considerable on-chain activity. The volumes of transactions and the number of users interacting with the platform are still very high, which means that the disagreement has not yet had an impact on the metrics of usage.

Developer sentiment shifts as Base’s direction sparks concern. [Source: Coindesk]
What This Crypto Backlash Means For The Blockchain Sector
The Base creator coin dispute is symptomatic of a more considerable problem that blockchain platforms around the world are encountering. The difficulty of managing the trinity of innovation, culture, and infrastructure is growing as the ecosystems become more mature.
If the platforms are viewed as favouring certain stories, they will not only lose the trust of the developers but also of the users, who will eventually quit the platform in the long run. Trust in developers still counts as a significant factor for a decentralised platform’s success.
The situation is interpreted by the industry experts as a case of testing. How Base will respond to issues raised by builders may have an impact on how networks of the future may create the economy of the creators while avoiding similar backlash.
Can Base Restore Balance Between Creators And Builders?
Restoring balance may require clearer communication and broader recognition of diverse contributions. Builders have called for more inclusive engagement rather than reduced innovation.
Base’s ability to reconcile cultural expansion with technical support will shape its reputation among global developers. A recalibrated approach could strengthen trust while preserving creative momentum.
As the crypto backlash continues, the outcome will likely influence how blockchain ecosystems define fairness, visibility, and growth in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Also Read: Why Coinbase Says These 3 Crypto Sectors Will Dominate in 2026 and What it Means for Investors
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What caused the crypto backlash on Base?
A1: The backlash arose from concerns that Base’s creator coin strategy favours certain projects over core builders.
Q2: What is a Base creator coin?
A2: A Base creator coin is a token linked to a creator or content initiative designed to encourage cultural participation on-chain.
Q3: Why are developers concerned about blockchain favouritism?
A3: Developers fear that selective promotion undermines merit-based recognition and long-term ecosystem trust.
Q4: Could this affect Base’s future growth?
A4: Sustained developer dissatisfaction could impact innovation, even if short-term user activity remains strong.