Ethereum’s Block Proposal Suffers from Centralization
Despite Ethereum’s transition to Proof of Stake and adoption of Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS), a mere two entities are currently proposing approximately 80% of Ethereum blocks. This centralization undermines the original ethos of the network and gives the entities disproportionate control over Maximum Extractable Value (MEV).
A Randomized Approach to Block Proposal
A recent research proposal suggests a fundamental alteration to Ethereum’s block building process. Instead of relying on specialized builders, all Ethereum clients (i.e., Geth and Nethermind) would adopt the same random algorithm for selecting transactions and roll-up blobs from their local mempools.
This randomization would eliminate the ability for any party to predict or manipulate transaction ordering, eliminating block-level MEV, such as arbitrage and front-running opportunities. The proposal could also drop Ethereum’s slot time from 12 seconds to 6-8 seconds, which would align with the future Danksharding roadmap of the network.
Changes in Leadership at the Ethereum Foundation
The report follows a leadership shake-up at the Ethereum Foundation. Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko described the changes as “one of the most consequential turning points in Ethereum’s history.”
Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stanczak have been appointed co-executive directors of the Ethereum Foundation. Wang is a veteran Ethereum researcher who contributed heavily to the beacon chain, and Stanczak has development and leadership experience from Nethermind.
Beiko emphasized the importance of balancing network optimization without sacrificing Ethereum’s core values. Though he recognized optimizations are necessary, he warned over-optimization could “kill the magic” that has propelled Ethereum’s success.
Despite expectations for these changes, Beiko acknowledged challenges ahead, noting Ethereum’s long-term success remains dependent on continued innovation and decentralization.
