diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-base-ignite-image.yml b/.github/workflows/build-base-ignite-image.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21d59c9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-base-ignite-image.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+name: Build Base Ignite Image
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      ignite_version:
+        description: "Ignite CLI version"
+        required: false
+        default: "v29.3.1"
+        type: string
+      ignite_evolve_app_version:
+        description: "Ignite Evolve app version/branch"
+        required: false
+        default: "main"
+        type: string
+  push:
+    paths:
+      - 'Dockerfile.base'
+    branches:
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - 'Dockerfile.base'
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  build-base-image:
+    name: Build and Push Base Ignite Image
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 45
+    env:
+      IGNITE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.ignite_version || 'v29.3.1' }}
+      IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION: ${{ inputs.ignite_evolve_app_version || 'main' }}
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+
+      - name: Log in to Container Registry
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Build and Push Base Image
+        run: |
+          docker build \
+            --build-arg IGNITE_VERSION=${{ env.IGNITE_VERSION }} \
+            --build-arg IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION=${{ env.IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION }} \
+            --label "ignite_version=${{ env.IGNITE_VERSION }}" \
+            --label "ignite_evolve_app_version=${{ env.IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION }}" \
+            -t ghcr.io/evstack/base-ignite-image:latest \
+            -f Dockerfile.base \
+            --push .
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 76561fac..d4df12d0 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,29 +1,16 @@
-FROM golang:1.24-alpine AS ignite-builder
-
-# Install dependencies needed for ignite and building
-RUN apk add --no-cache \
-    libc6-compat \
-    curl \
-    bash
+ARG BASE_IMAGE=ghcr.io/evstack/base-ignite-image:latest
+FROM ${BASE_IMAGE} AS ignite-builder
 
 # Set environment variables
-ENV EVNODE_VERSION=v1.0.0-beta.2.0.20250818133040-d096a24e7052
-ENV IGNITE_VERSION=v29.3.1
-ENV IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION=main
-
-RUN curl -sSL https://get.ignite.com/cli@${IGNITE_VERSION}! | bash
+ARG EVNODE_VERSION=v1.0.0-beta.2.0.20250818133040-d096a24e7052
+ENV EVNODE_VERSION=${EVNODE_VERSION}
 
 WORKDIR /workspace
 
 COPY . ./ev-abci
 
-RUN ignite scaffold chain gm --no-module --skip-git --address-prefix gm
-
 WORKDIR /workspace/gm
 
-RUN ignite app install github.com/ignite/apps/evolve@${IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION} && \
-    ignite evolve add
-
 RUN go mod edit -replace github.com/evstack/ev-node=github.com/evstack/ev-node@${EVNODE_VERSION} && \
     go mod edit -replace github.com/evstack/ev-abci=/workspace/ev-abci && \
     go mod tidy
diff --git a/Dockerfile.base b/Dockerfile.base
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..350fac9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile.base
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+FROM golang:1.24-alpine AS base-ignite-image
+
+# install dependencies needed for ignite and building
+RUN apk add --no-cache \
+    libc6-compat \
+    curl \
+    bash
+
+# set environment variables for ignite and evolve versions
+ARG IGNITE_VERSION=v29.3.1
+ARG IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION=main
+ENV IGNITE_VERSION=${IGNITE_VERSION}
+ENV IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION=${IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION}
+
+# install ignite CLI
+RUN curl -sSL https://get.ignite.com/cli@${IGNITE_VERSION}! | bash
+
+WORKDIR /workspace
+
+# scaffold chain with evolve app
+RUN ignite scaffold chain gm --no-module --skip-git --address-prefix gm
+
+WORKDIR /workspace/gm
+
+# install evolve app and add to chain
+RUN ignite app install github.com/ignite/apps/evolve@${IGNITE_EVOLVE_APP_VERSION} && \
+    ignite evolve add
+
+# pre-download dependencies to warm the module cache
+RUN go mod download
+
+# this base image contains a pre-scaffolded chain with evolve