Published March 2026 · 7 min read
What to Do with ETH on Base Network — Guide for ETH Holders
You have ETH on Base Network (or you're thinking about bridging some over). Now what? Base is one of the fastest-growing Ethereum L2s, backed by Coinbase with 110M+ users. This guide covers the best ways to put your ETH to work on Base in 2026 — from DeFi to NFTs to a unique raffle model that lets you earn 50% of every prize pool.
1. DeFi on Base
Base hosts a growing DeFi ecosystem with decentralized exchanges (DEXs), lending protocols, and yield farms. Major protocols like Aerodrome, Uniswap (Base), and Morpho Blue offer trading, liquidity provision, and lending opportunities with gas fees under $0.01.
DeFi on Base is ideal for active traders and yield seekers who want Ethereum-level security with dramatically lower fees. The ecosystem is growing rapidly, with new protocols launching every week.
2. NFTs on Base
Base Network's low mint costs have attracted a wave of NFT projects. From art collections to utility NFTs, the Base NFT ecosystem is vibrant and growing. OpenSea supports Base NFTs natively, providing liquidity and discoverability.
The most interesting development in Base NFTs is the shift toward utility. Instead of speculative PFP collections, projects like NFT5050 are creating NFTs with real functional value — like raffle creation access and revenue sharing.
3. Create 50/50 Raffles (Unique to Base)
One of the most unique ways to use ETH on Base is creating 50/50 raffles on NFT5050. Here's how it works:
- Mint an NFT5050 membership for 0.02 ETH
- Create a 50/50 raffle and share the link with your audience
- Participants buy tickets at 0.0025 ETH each
- When the raffle ends, you earn 50% of the entire prize pool
This model turns your ETH into a revenue-generating tool. A single raffle with 200 tickets earns you 0.25 ETH — a 12.5x return on the mint cost. Run raffles weekly and the earnings compound. It's one of the lowest-entry, highest-ROI activities available on Base Network.
4. Social & Community Apps
Base is the home network for Farcaster, the decentralized social protocol. ETH on Base can be used for tipping, purchasing Farcaster-related NFTs, and participating in social commerce. The social layer of Base is growing rapidly and offers unique engagement opportunities.
5. Gaming & Entertainment
Base's low fees make it suitable for gaming transactions — buying in-game items, participating in tournaments, and earning rewards. Several gaming DApps have deployed on Base, with more launching regularly. The combination of gaming + raffles (like NFT5050's 50/50 draws) creates a unique entertainment experience.
6. HODL with Lower Fees
Even if you're just holding ETH, Base Network offers advantages. Moving ETH between wallets costs virtually nothing. Interacting with DApps when opportunities arise is cheap. And when you're ready to deploy your ETH into activities like raffle creation or DeFi, the gas fees won't eat into your capital.