Coinbase Launches ‘Base App’ Super App as App Store Surge Hints at Crypto Retail Revival

U.S. crypto giant Coinbase has rebranded its Coinbase Wallet into an ambitious all-in-one “super app” now called Base app — combining crypto trading, payments, social networking, messaging, and mini-apps in a single decentralized experience.

But that’s not the only signal Coinbase is making waves.

According to data from Sensor Tower, the Coinbase app has soared 65% in the U.S. Apple App Store rankings in the last month, jumping from #386 to #137. Historically, this type of rise has correlated with surging retail interest in crypto — though whether that retail wave has truly returned is still hotly debated across the industry.

Also read: Is Coinbase Safe? Everything You Need To Know

Coinbase’s New ‘Everything App’

Unveiled during the company’s “A New Day One” event in Los Angeles, the new Base app is designed to go far beyond a wallet.

Coinbase is pitching it as a Web3-native super app, giving users access to:

• A decentralized social network via Farcaster, where creators own their content and monetize without needing brand deals or follower minimums.
• Encrypted chat and AI-powered agents to assist with trading and transactions.
• In-app crypto trading, integrated directly into the user’s social feed.
• NFC tap-to-pay functionality using Circle’s USDC through a new feature called “Base Pay.”
• Mini apps for gaming, yield farming, and prediction markets.
• Sign in with Base, enabling portable credentials across the decentralized web.

John Granata, Coinbase’s head of product for the app, described it as a tool to “expand economic freedom, creativity, and innovation,” and suggested it could become a launchpad for a new kind of decentralized social network.

Jesse Pollack, the creator of Base, captured the symbolic moment by snapping a selfie and posting the first tokenized post on the app — effectively christening Coinbase’s leap into the super app era.

Coinbase Climbs the Charts

While Coinbase is making technical strides, it’s also catching the attention of retail users — at least according to App Store metrics.

A rise to #137 in the U.S. Apple App Store marks one of the company’s highest rankings in recent memory and historically aligns with bullish sentiment and increased public interest in crypto. During previous bull market peaks, Coinbase frequently broke into the top 175, while bear markets saw it fall below the 500s.

The climb comes as Bitcoin recently hit a new all-time high of $122,884 before settling near $118,000. Some analysts argue this signals that retail traders are inching their way back into the space.

Crypto analyst Tony Edwards noted a spike in YouTube views and subscribers, claiming “retail is definitely starting to come back in.” 

Similarly, Lab4Crypto echoed the sentiment: “The crowd is slowly returning.”

But Not Everyone Is Convinced

Still, not everyone agrees. André Dragosch, head of research at Bitwise, said retail interest remains “almost nowhere to be found,” pointing to weak Google search volume for “Bitcoin.”

Crypto trader Elisa also highlighted that searches for “crypto” are still far below 2021 levels. The discrepancy between app store data and search interest suggests that the traditional markers of retail sentiment might not be as reliable in 2025 as they were in previous cycles.

Google searches for “Crypto” (Source: Google Trends)

According to analysts at Bitfinex, the new market participants accumulating Bitcoin are largely “price agnostic.” Wallets holding between 1 and 100 BTC are reportedly buying at a rate of 19,300 BTC per month — outpacing the current post-halving issuance of just 13,400 BTC/month.

But here’s the twist: Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs may be altering the behavior of retail entirely. With $53.05 billion in inflows into Bitcoin ETFs since January and another $6 billion into Ether ETFs since July, everyday investors now have new pathways to get crypto exposure — without ever touching an exchange like Coinbase.

A New Era of Crypto Engagement?

Coinbase’s super app push — coupled with rising App Store visibility and a broader resurgence in crypto prices — hints that the market may be entering a new kind of bull market, one where decentralized social media, frictionless payments, and self-custody wallets play a far bigger role than before.

Whether retail is fully back or just waking up, Coinbase seems to be setting the table for a different kind of digital future.