Base Network Halts for 33 Minutes After Sequencer Failure
Coinbase's layer-2 blockchain, Base, experienced a 33-minute network outage on Tuesday due to a malfunctioning sequencer.
The issue began when the active sequencer fell behind on block production, triggering an automatic switch to a backup sequencer that was not properly configured to process transactions.
The network was restored by 6:40 am UTC.
Key Takeaways
- Base experienced a 33-minute network outage due to a faulty backup sequencer.
- The incident highlighted Base's reliance on centralized sequencers.
- The team has committed to infrastructure updates to prevent future occurrences.
- Some in the crypto community viewed the outage positively, citing network activity.
Faulty Sequencer Identified as Cause
The outage commenced at 6:07 am UTC when the primary sequencer began to lag in block production.
Base's system for managing sequencer availability, known as Conductor, initiated a switch to a backup.
However, this backup sequencer was reportedly still in the setup phase and unable to create blocks, leading to the halt in network activity.
Network Recovery and Future Improvements
Base creator Jesse Pollak confirmed that the core team responded promptly, and the network was fully operational by 6:40 am UTC.
Additional time was spent ensuring that a chain reorganization was not necessary.
The Base team acknowledged the incident's exposure of its reliance on centralized sequencers for transaction processing at scale.
They plan to enhance their infrastructure to ensure all sequencers within the cluster are capable of handling block-building duties if selected.
Previous Outage and Community Reaction
This marks Base's second significant network disruption since its public launch in September 2023, when it faced a 43-minute halt in block production.
Despite the challenges, some crypto analysts, like former Coinbase engineer 0xrooter, interpreted the downtime as a bullish sign, suggesting it indicates a network with substantial user engagement.
Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius Labs, drew parallels to Solana, another high-speed blockchain that has encountered similar outages.
Both Base and Solana remain popular among retail users, with Base boasting over 1.09 million active addresses.
Sources:
- Base Reveals post-mortem Report After 33-Minute Outage
- Base Network Releases 33-Minute Outage Report, Said Caused by Sequencer Handover Failure
- Base blames faulty sequencer for 33-minute outage, fixes made
- Base Says Sequencer Failure Caused Block Production Halt of 33 Minutes
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