Which is more decentralized — OP Mainnet or Base? A side-by-side on consensus, nodes, clients and governance.
| OP Mainnet | Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | C+ | C |
| Type | L2 · Optimistic rollup | L2 · Optimistic rollup |
| Nakamoto / stage | Stage 1 | Stage 1 |
| Node / validator set | Inherits Ethereum security | Inherits Ethereum security |
| Clients / sequencer | Single sequencer (OP Foundation) | Single sequencer (Coinbase) |
| Governance | Optimism Collective (two houses) | Coinbase-led + Superchain |
| Key risk | Centralized sequencer | Coinbase-run sequencer |
Stage 1 with the clearest path to decentralized sequencing. Stage-1 guarantees with a notably centralized, Coinbase-operated sequencer.