Solana and Coinbase’s Base network are now connected through a new bridge built with Chainlink technology. Base announced on Thursday that the system uses Chainlink’s Cross Chain Interoperability Protocol and support from Coinbase to allow direct movement of assets between the two chains.
The bridge is live on mainnet for builders and is gradually opening for public use in applications such as Zora, Aerodrome, Virtuals, Flaunch, and Relay.
With this launch, users will be able to trade Solana assets on Base, while developers on Base can add support for Solana assets, including SPL tokens, inside their applications. The move aims to bring more activity across both chains by letting people move funds without juggling separate tools or wallets.
Growing Links Between Two Major Blockchains
Solana ranks as the second largest blockchain by value locked, with about $9 billion in assets, while Base holds the sixth spot with $4.5 billion, according to DefiLlama. Both chains are known for fast settlement and low fees, which has made them popular for memecoin minting and trading.
The bridge is seen as a technical step forward because it connects the EVM compatible Base network with Solana, which uses a different design. This connection allows Base to present itself as a place where activity from many chains can meet, instead of competing only with other EVM chains. In practice, this means users can reach assets from different networks while relying on fewer tools.
Activity on Solana has slowed over the past year. Active addresses reached more than 6 million in November 2024 but have since fallen to about 2.4 million. Base has also seen a drop in active addresses since its peak in June 2025. Even so, Base’s transaction count has moved higher, reaching nearly 407 million in November, marking its busiest month so far this year.
Solana and Chainlink Market Response Remains Muted
News of the bridge did not boost Solana’s token price. SOL fell about 3% on the day, slipping below $140. The token now sits more than 50% under its January 2025 peak of above $293.
Chainlink’s token moved the same way, dropping around 3% to $14.30. LINK remains down 73% from its 2021 peak near $53, even with the recent debut of the first US spot LINK exchange traded fund. Altcoins as a group have lagged during this market cycle, and the latest update did little to change that trend.