Base L2 Earns $185K Daily via Priority Fees and DEX Trades

Base L2 network, built by Coinbase, leads Ethereum Layer2s in revenue. Over the past 180 days, Base averaged $185,291 daily. This far exceeds Arbitrum’s $55,025 average. Base’s fee model follows EIP-1559 with base fees and optional priority fees. Sequencers rank transactions by tip per Gas unit, creating an auction that boosts revenue as congestion and profit-seeking DEX trades rise. Priority fees accounted for 86.1% of Base’s fees, averaging $156,138 daily. A small group of 250 addresses paid nearly 65% of priority fees. Top slots in each block generated 30%–45% of daily priority fees. Flashblocks, introduced by Flashbots, created 200ms sub-block confirmations. This improved UX but shifted high-tip transactions to later confirmed slots. Base’s DEX volume dominates L2 networks at 50%–65% of total DEX trades. DEX transactions contributed 50%–70% of priority fees. Higher base fees and Flashblocks reduced DEX tips share recently. In 2025, Base generated $33.4 M in revenue, capturing 64% of the top 15 L2 networks. Its auction-style priority fee model and active DEX arbitrage underscore sustainable MEV-driven growth.