Could Avantis reposition Base as the Next DeFi Hub?

Base has quietly evolved from “just another L2” into a hotspot for DeFi innovation, and projects like Avantis ($AVNT) are part of that shift. Base is attracting protocols that aim to bridge decentralized freedom with real-world financial tools. Avantis, a native Base project, is one example, focusing on real-world asset (RWA) perpetuals with high leverage up to 500× for crypto and 1000× for forex. Its zero-fee perpetuals (ZFP) model, which charges only on profitable trades, is an interesting twist on traditional exchanges. But is this approach a game-changer or just a niche experiment?

Avantis has racked up billions in trading volume and tens of thousands of active users, with tens of millions in TVL. Its recent listings on exchanges like Bitget have broadened its reach, and backing from funds like Pantera and Coinbase Ventures suggests confidence in its infrastructure. Still, the broader story is Base itself. The chain is moving beyond meme tokens to host projects tackling synthetic markets and high-liquidity derivatives areas typically dominated by centralized platforms. This raises questions about whether Base can sustain this momentum and compete with established DeFi ecosystems.

Is Base carving out a unique identity in DeFi, or is it overhyped? Can projects like Avantis redefine how we trade RWAs, or are they just riding the L2 wave? Share your thoughts below