The social crypto app debuted its new “attention markets” on Solana, igniting controversy among Base supporters and raising questions about shifting loyalties in the layer 2 ecosystem.
Posted February 18, 2026 at 7:35 am EST.
In a move few saw coming, Zora, long viewed as one of Base’s flagship social apps, has launched its new “attention markets” product on Solana instead of Coinbase’s layer 2 network.
The new feature lets users create tradable markets tied to internet trends, memes, and cultural moments for 1 SOL, effectively turning social media buzz into a speculative asset. Traders can bet on whether a topic gains traction, blurring the line between prediction markets and meme coins.
What makes the shift notable is Zora’s history. The platform was deeply associated with Base, where it rolled out creator coins and benefited from heavy promotion by Coinbase leadership. That is why the Solana launch triggered backlash from parts of the Base community, with some calling the move disappointing and accusing Zora of extracting value before leaving.
This story is an excerpt from the Unchained Daily newsletter.
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Speculation escalated quickly. One anonymous post suggested Coinbase may have warned portfolio projects to exit Base ahead of a potential shutdown. Base creator Jesse Pollak responded bluntly, calling the rumor “complete and total FUD” with no basis in reality, adding that Zora’s creator tools on Base remain fully operational.
Still, the optics are striking. One of Base’s most visible cultural experiments just chose Solana for its next act.
