The blockchain world loves its layers. We have Layer 1s, the foundational bedrock like Ethereum. We have Layer 2s, the express lanes built on top, like Base. Just when you thought the cake was tall enough, along comes the Layer 3.
- SKALE, a Layer 1 network, is building a Layer 3 network called SKALE on Base, which is a Layer 2 built on Ethereum. This unusual structure is purpose-built to handle autonomous agent workloads.
- The new layer aims to solve the problem of unpredictable gas fees and slow transaction speeds that hinder constant interaction by AI agents. It achieves this by leveraging SKALE’s zero gas fee infrastructure on top of Base’s established ecosystem.
- SKALE on Base will utilize a credit system, similar to cloud services, allowing agents to operate without managing traditional gas fees, thereby removing a major friction point for machine-to-machine payments.
But this time, the recipe is a bit strange. SKALE, a Layer 1 network, has decided to build a Layer 3. And it’s building it on top of Base, a Layer 2. It feels a bit like a skyscraper deciding to build its penthouse on the roof of a neighboring building. It’s an unusual move that deserves a closer look.
The new network is called SKALE on Base. Its purpose is very specific. It’s not for flipping meme coins or trading NFTs of cartoon animals. According to the project, this new layer is “purpose-built for agent workloads.”
And with that, we step into the next chapter of what blockchains are for. We’re moving beyond simple transactions and into the world of autonomous AI.
A Quiet Place for AI Agents
So, what exactly is an “agent workload?” Think of an AI agent as a small, autonomous program designed to perform tasks for you. It might manage your DeFi portfolio, bid on digital items, or process payments without your direct input for every single step.
These agents need to interact with blockchains constantly. But blockchains, especially busy ones, can be hostile environments for them. Gas fees are unpredictable. Transaction speeds can lag. An agent trying to execute a thousand tiny operations a day would get eaten alive by fees and delays.
A project representative put it plainly. “Agents need better blockspace to run onchain.” It’s like trying to have a serious conversation in the middle of a rock concert. The agents need a quieter, cheaper room to do their work.
This is the problem SKALE on Base aims to solve. It combines SKALE’s infrastructure, known for zero gas fees and quick transaction finality, with the ecosystem of Base. Base brings the liquidity, the users, and the easy onramps from Coinbase. It’s a marriage of convenience, and potentially, a very smart one.
SKALE’s technology allows this through an initiative called SKALE Expand. This system lets the core smart contracts that run SKALE chains get deployed on any blockchain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). It’s like SKALE has packaged its engine and is now offering to install it in other popular car models.
The result? Users and their AI agents can stay on their home chain, like Base, but access SKALE’s specialized features without having to move all their assets. They get the best of both worlds.
Paying with Credits, Not Gas
One of the most practical changes is the shift away from traditional gas fees. Have you ever tried explaining gas to someone new to crypto? It’s a conversation that usually ends in confusion and a slight headache. AI agents don’t have time for that.
Instead, SKALE on Base will use a credit system. Users can pre-pay for computational resources on Base using stablecoins like USDC or SKALE’s own SKL token. This is a model AI developers are already comfortable with. It’s how cloud services like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud operate. You buy credits, you use them, you top up when you’re low.
This means the agents, and their users, “will never have to manage gas while using onchain apps.” It removes a major point of friction. The agent’s code doesn’t need complex logic to estimate gas prices. It just runs, drawing from a prepaid balance.
This is particularly important for protocols like x402, an AI-focused payment system incubated by Coinbase. For machines to pay other machines seamlessly, the transaction process needs to be invisible and utterly reliable. A credit system gets much closer to that ideal.
Security is also part of the package. SKALE’s BITE Protocol, for instance, is designed to shield transactions from malicious MEV attacks. These are tactics like front-running or sandwich attacks, where bots exploit the order of transactions for profit. For an AI agent managing real funds, protection from such predatory behavior is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.
The Universal Agent Layer
The launch on Base is just the first step. SKALE’s ambition is much larger. The goal is to turn SKALE into “an agent layer that can sit behind multiple L1s and L2s.” They don’t just want to build a single quiet room. They want to build a network of soundproof booths available on every major blockchain.
The logic is compelling. “The goal is simple: give agents a consistent environment everywhere they operate, instead of forcing them to relearn gas models and UX on every chain,” the team wrote. This is a direct answer to the fragmentation of the blockchain world. A developer could write an agent once, and with SKALE Expand, that agent could operate across many different ecosystems without major code changes.
This creates a “unified execution environment.” It’s a powerful idea. It suggests a future where the underlying blockchain becomes less important to the application running on top. The agent just knows it has a reliable, cheap place to run its code, whether its user is on Base, Polygon, or another network entirely.
This is how infrastructure matures. It becomes standardized. It becomes invisible. We don’t think about which power plant is lighting our home when we flip a switch. SKALE is betting that AI agents will one day need the same kind of simple, reliable access to blockspace.
It’s a bold play. It positions SKALE not as a direct competitor to networks like Ethereum or Solana, but as a specialized service provider for a new, growing class of onchain users. These users just happen to be code.
