base · refcell · Jan 15, 2026
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ exclude = [".github/"]
 
 [workspace]
 resolver = "2"
-members = ["bin/*", "crates/client/*", "crates/shared/*", "crates/builder/*"]
+members = ["bin/*", "crates/client/*", "crates/shared/*", "crates/builder/*", "crates/consensus/*"]
 default-members = ["bin/node", "bin/consensus"]
 
 [workspace.metadata.cargo-udeps.ignore]
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ base-primitives = { path = "crates/shared/primitives" }
 base-access-lists = { path = "crates/shared/access-lists" }
 base-reth-rpc-types = { path = "crates/shared/reth-rpc-types" }
 base-jwt = { path = "crates/shared/jwt" }
+base-engine-driver = { path = "crates/shared/engine-driver" }
 base-flashblocks-node = { path = "crates/client/flashblocks-node" }
 
 # Client
@@ -69,6 +70,11 @@ base-client-node = { path = "crates/client/node" }
 base-metering = { path = "crates/client/metering" }
 base-txpool = { path = "crates/client/txpool" }
 base-flashblocks = { path = "crates/client/flashblocks" }
+base-engine-bridge = { path = "crates/client/engine-bridge" }
+
+# Consensus
+base-engine-actor = { path = "crates/consensus/engine-actor" }
+base-node-service = { path = "crates/consensus/node-service" }
 
 # Builder
 base-builder-cli = { path = "crates/builder/base-builder-cli" }
@@ -81,6 +87,7 @@ kona-engine = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8
 kona-derive = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
 kona-gossip = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
 kona-genesis = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
+kona-protocol = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
 kona-registry = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
 kona-node-service = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
 kona-providers-alloy = { git = "https://github.com/op-rs/kona", rev = "24e7e2658e09ac00c8e6cbb48bebe6d10f8fb69d" }
@@ -122,7 +129,10 @@ reth-transaction-pool = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1
 reth-rpc-eth-types = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1.9.3" }
 reth-primitives-traits = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1.9.3" }
 reth-optimism-chainspec = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1.9.3" }
-reth-optimism-primitives = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1.9.3" }
+reth-optimism-primitives = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1.9.3", features = [
+    "serde",
+    "reth-codec",
+] }
 reth-db = { git = "https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth", tag = "v1.9.3", features = [
     "op",
 ] }

diff --git a/bin/unified/Cargo.toml b/bin/unified/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+[package]
+name = "base-unified"
+version.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+rust-version.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+homepage.workspace = true
+repository.workspace = true
+description = "Unified CL+EL binary for Base"
+
+[lints]
+workspace = true
+
+[[bin]]
+name = "base-unified"
+path = "src/main.rs"
+
+[dependencies]
+# Workspace crates
+base-node-service.workspace = true
+base-client-node.workspace = true
+base-cli-utils.workspace = true
+
+# reth
+reth-optimism-cli.workspace = true
+reth-optimism-node.workspace = true
+reth-cli-util.workspace = true
+
+# CLI and runtime
+eyre.workspace = true
+clap = { workspace = true, features = ["derive"] }
+tokio = { workspace = true, features = ["full"] }
+tracing.workspace = true
+
+# Serialization
+serde_json.workspace = true
diff --git a/bin/unified/README.md b/bin/unified/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+# `base-unified`
+
+<a href="https://github.com/base/node-reth/actions/workflows/ci.yml"><img src="https://github.com/base/node-reth/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg?label=ci" alt="CI"></a>
+<a href="https://github.com/base/node-reth/blob/main/LICENSE"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-d1d1f6.svg?label=license&labelColor=2a2f35" alt="MIT License"></a>
+
+Unified CL+EL binary for Base that runs both consensus and execution layers in a single process.
+
+## Overview
+
+This binary combines:
+- **Execution Layer (reth)**: Full OP Stack execution client
+- **Consensus Layer (kona)**: Rollup node with derivation pipeline
+- **In-Process Bridge**: Zero-overhead communication via direct channels (no HTTP/IPC)
+
+## Architecture
+
+```text
+┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│  base-unified binary                                                   │
+│  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
+│  │ UnifiedRollupNode (orchestrator)                                   ││
+│  │                                                                    ││
+│  │  ┌─────────────────┐   ┌─────────────────┐   ┌─────────────────┐  ││
+│  │  │ NetworkActor    │   │ DerivationActor │   │ L1WatcherActor  │  ││
+│  │  │ (from kona)     │   │ (from kona)     │   │ (from kona)     │  ││
+│  │  └────────┬────────┘   └────────┬────────┘   └────────┬────────┘  ││
+│  │           │                     │                     │           ││
+│  │           └──────────┬──────────┴──────────┬──────────┘           ││
+│  │                      ▼                     ▼                       ││
+│  │              mpsc::channel          mpsc::channel                  ││
+│  │                      │                     │                       ││
+│  │  ┌───────────────────▼─────────────────────▼───────────────────┐  ││
+│  │  │ DirectEngineActor (custom implementation)                   │  ││
+│  │  │   └─ InProcessEngineDriver (channel-based, no HTTP)         │  ││
+│  │  └───────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┘  ││
+│  │                      │                                             ││
+│  │                      ▼ (direct channel via ConsensusEngineHandle) ││
+│  │  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐  ││
+│  │  │ reth EL (EngineApiTreeHandler)                              │  ││
+│  │  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘  ││
+│  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
+└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+## Usage
+
+```bash
+# Run the unified node (launches both EL and CL)
+base-unified --chain base-sepolia --rollup-config ./rollup.json
+
+# Run EL only (for testing)
+base-unified --chain base-sepolia --el-only
+```
+
+## Configuration
+
+### Required Arguments
+- `--chain`: Chain specification (e.g., `base-mainnet`, `base-sepolia`)
+
+### Optional Arguments
+- `--rollup-config`: Path to kona rollup configuration file
+- `--datadir`: Data directory for both CL and EL
+- `--l1-rpc-url`: L1 Ethereum RPC endpoint
+- `--l1-beacon-url`: L1 Beacon API endpoint
+- `--el-only`: Skip consensus layer (EL testing mode)
+
+## Why Unified?
+
+The Engine API (HTTP/JSON-RPC) was designed for Ethereum's multi-client ecosystem where
+CL and EL are separate processes. For an L2 rollup where you control both layers:
+
+| Aspect | Separate Processes | Unified Binary |
+|--------|-------------------|----------------|
+| Latency | HTTP/IPC overhead (~1ms+) | Direct channel (~1μs) |
+| Serialization | Full JSON-RPC | None (direct types) |
+| Deployment | 2 binaries | 1 binary |
+| Coordination | External | Internal |
+
+## Components
+
+This binary uses:
+- [`base-engine-bridge`](../../crates/client/engine-bridge): InProcessEngineDriver for channel-based engine communication
+- [`base-engine-actor`](../../crates/consensus/engine-actor): DirectEngineActor and processor
+- [`base-node-service`](../../crates/consensus/node-service): UnifiedRollupNode orchestrator
+- [`base-client-node`](../../crates/client/node): BaseNodeRunner for reth
+
+## License
+
+Licensed under the [MIT License](https://github.com/base/node-reth/blob/main/LICENSE).
diff --git a/bin/unified/src/cli.rs b/bin/unified/src/cli.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+//! CLI argument definitions for the unified binary.
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use clap::Parser;
+use reth_optimism_node::args::RollupArgs;
+
+/// Unified CL+EL binary for Base.
+///
+/// Runs both the consensus layer (kona) and execution layer (reth) in a single
+/// process with direct in-process channel communication (no HTTP or IPC overhead).
+#[derive(Parser, Debug)]
+#[command(name = "base-unified")]
+#[command(about = "Base unified CL+EL node")]
+pub(crate) struct UnifiedCli {
+    /// Path to the rollup configuration file (kona format).
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "FILE")]
+    pub rollup_config: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Path to the chain specification file.
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "FILE")]
+    pub chain: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Data directory for both CL and EL.
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "DIR")]
+    pub datadir: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// L1 RPC endpoint URL.
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "URL")]
+    pub l1_rpc_url: Option<String>,
+
+    /// L1 beacon API endpoint URL.
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "URL")]
+    pub l1_beacon_url: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Rollup-specific arguments (forwarded to reth OP node).
+    #[command(flatten)]
+    pub rollup_args: RollupArgs,
+
+    /// Log verbosity level.
+    #[arg(short, long, default_value = "info")]
+    pub verbosity: String,
+
+    /// Skip launching the consensus layer (for testing EL only).
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub el_only: bool,
+}