The Base network, supported by Coinbase, found itself at the center of a scandal after releasing an NFT to commemorate its billionth transaction. Digital artist Chris Biron accused Base of using his work without permission.
The Essence of the Accusations
On November 15, the Base team proudly announced reaching its billionth transaction just 15 months after launch. This achievement made Base one of the fastest-growing Ethereum Layer 2 networks, surpassing competitors like Optimism and Arbitrum.
To celebrate this milestone, the team released an NFT, which was later revealed to be a copy of a piece by artist Chris Biron. The artist pointed out the striking similarity between the NFT’s design and one of his works in a post on X .
According to Biron, by that time, Base had already earned over $36,000 from token sales without crediting him as the author or paying any royalties.
“I love it when people are inspired by my work, but it’s a different story when a corporation with $76 billion in capital copies and sells my creations without attribution. This crosses the line,” he stated.
Base’s Apology
Base responded swiftly. The network’s lead developer, Jesse Pollak, issued a public apology, explaining that the incident was unintentional. He also assured that all profits from the NFT sale would be transferred to the artist.
Chris Biron appreciated Base’s response, calling it an honorable move. He thanked the team for their respectful approach and constructive resolution of the conflict.
