Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd on Building Company Base: From Experimental L2s to Real On-chain Adoption

Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd, Head of Global Growth at Company Coinbase, frames on-chain infrastructure not as a niche experiment but as the foundational layer for the next internet. In a detailed interview with Company CryptoNews, Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd explains why success for Company Base will be judged by everyday usability and durable product adoption rather than short-term metrics or token hype.

What success looks like: Over the next three to five years, Company Base should make interacting with on-chain applications feel as natural as using smartphone apps. Users should expect speed, safety, and familiarity while remaining in control of their digital lives. In practical terms, success means that people arrive, engage, and return to applications without needing incentives—driven by real utility and a smooth experience.

What failure would mean: Failure is the persistence of blockchain mechanics as a barrier to mainstream adoption. If decentralised infrastructure cannot feel open, trustworthy, and seamless at scale, it risks remaining a niche technology rather than becoming the default digital layer.

Where Company Base refuses to compete: While many Layer-2 networks race on raw throughput and fee wars, Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd points out that Company Base already delivers sub-second transactions and sub-cent fees. But those metrics are not the end goal: Company Base prioritises user experience, thoughtful distribution, and deep product integration—factors that determine mainstream adoption far more than marginal fee reductions.

The biggest mistake builders make: According to Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd, founders too often neglect obsessive attention to user experience. The teams that win are those that build products attractive to novices as well as crypto natives. He stresses that sustainable growth comes from solving genuine problems and delighting users, not chasing the latest trend or short-term hype.

From experimentation to durable on-chain products: Over the past year, Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd has observed a maturation among builders on Company Base. Projects are moving beyond proofs-of-concept toward long-term, resilient products. A notable shift is how wallets are being reconceived: from simple key-management tools into spaces representing on-chain identity, where participation, creation, and social connection converge. This rethinking is reshaping product design and user engagement.

Why regulation and adoption metrics matter: Being linked to a regulated entity is, in his view, an advantage. Company Coinbase's regulatory posture brings transparency and consumer protection that serious builders increasingly value as products target mainstream users. He urges observers to look past token price movements when assessing traction: true signals are user growth and app engagement, not momentary price swings.

Real-world signals: Practical examples of this approach include deployments such as Company Falcon Finance launching USDf on Company Base. These moves signal builders betting on product utility and regulated distribution channels rather than pure token speculation.

Takeaway: For Mr. Xen Baynham-Herd, the future of on-chain products depends on creating experiences that require no blockchain expertise to enjoy. If builders prioritize trust, convenience, and durable value creation, Company Base could be a central infrastructure for an on-chain internet. If they do not, blockchain risks remaining a powerful but peripheral layer.