Ethereum’s network has a problem. Over 80% of blocks come from just two big players. A new plan could fix this.
Ethereum’s Proof of Stake (PoS) system and Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) were meant to reduce centralization. However, a few builders and relays still control most blocks. A researcher has proposed a new system that uses a shared random process to make block-building fair for everyone.
All Ethereum clients, not just a few builders, create blocks in this system. A random algorithm ensures fairness. Validators check the blocks and agree on the final version.
Here’s how it works. Each Ethereum client, like Geth or Nethermind, runs the same random algorithm. A seed from RANDAO and a Verifiable Delay Function (VDF) ensure the process is unpredictable. Clients pick transactions from their mempools and send the blocks to validators.
Validators check the blocks, remove any bad transactions, and agree on a final version. Rewards go to randomly selected validators who follow the rules.
Benefits from this proposal
This system has many benefits. It removes unfair profits from block-building and spreads power across all Ethereum clients, not just a few big ones. It could also make the network faster, cutting block times from 12 seconds to 6-8 seconds. Plus, it supports Ethereum’s future scaling plans with Danksharding.
One major advantage is that it stops block-level MEV (Maximal Extractable Value). Right now, builders can change transaction orders for profit. This new system prevents that by making transaction order random. Some MEV could still happen in mempools, but exploiting it would be much harder.
The network would also be more decentralized. Instead of two big players controlling most blocks, thousands of Ethereum clients could participate. The system can handle small differences in transaction pools and still run smoothly.
Ethereum’s speed and security improvements
Speed could also improve. Ethereum blocks currently take 12 seconds. This system could lower that to 6-8 seconds by allowing multiple clients to propose blocks at the same time. It would also be more secure against spam attacks and failures.
Validators would have an easier job. Instead of proposing blocks, they would only need to check and confirm them. The system also supports Ethereum’s rollup scaling plans, making it future-proof.
This proposal trades some optimization for fairness. PBS focuses on making rollups more efficient. This system prioritizes decentralization. This approach could be the right choice if Ethereum wants to stay fair and open. Future updates could even combine both systems for the best of both worlds.
