Ethereum Co-founder Proposes a Plan to Lighten Network Load and Simplify PoS Consensus
Summary:
Ethereum's co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, has suggested a solution to lighten the load on the Ethereum blockchain and simplify its PoS consensus. His proposal intends to reduce the volume of signatures validators have to create, thereby lessening the network strain. The plan also involves incorporating a more moderate solution with fewer signatures per slot, which would not only simplify technical aspects but also maintain a high level of slashable ETH, a mechanism encouraging responsible behavior among validators. The intent is to manage the signature load, facilitating smoother protocol and infrastructure development.
A potential solution to lessen the burden on the Ethereum blockchain and simplify its proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus has been suggested by Ethereum's co-founder, Vitalik Buterin. On December 28, Vitalik Buterin introduced a plan aimed at diminishing the amount of signatures validators have to produce for the smooth operation of the network, which would in turn lessen the load.
The existing Ethereum framework relies on approximately 895,000 validators to promote a decentralized network and to allow ordinary individuals the opportunity to become involved in staking. This, however, introduces several technical challenges due to the sheer volume of validator signatures to be processed – an estimated 28,000 per slot – posing an "extreme load," according to Buterin.
Buterin's PoS simplification proposal presents a design that necessitates just 8192 signatures per slot, thereby significantly reducing complexity and lightening the network strain.
Yet, accommodating this substantial load necessitates several compromises such as limiting quantum resistance, complex forking, and scaling signatures using zero-knowledge proofs (SNARKs), he elaborates. Furthermore, the 32 ETH minimum to become a validator remains a high barrier for many, meaning it doesn't fully empower ordinary individuals to participate.
Buterin suggests adopting a more moderate solution encompassing around 8,192 signatures per slot, a substantial reduction from the current 28,000. Such a shift would offer considerable technical simplification, heightened quantum resistance, and maintain the total slashable ETH high at roughly 1-2 million ETH, a mechanism designed to promote responsible validator actions.
The co-founder presents three potential tactics: relying completely on decentralized staking pools; implementing a dual-tiered system with "heavy" and "light" staking; and a rotating participation system with accountable committees. These proposed solutions aim to reduce the signature load to a manageable level.
A primary advantage of this initiative is that it would keep future signature load at a controllable level, facilitating more straightforward protocol and infrastructure development. "The future load of the Ethereum protocol is no longer an unknown," Buterin emphasized, indicating that it could be increased via hard forks when technologies improve sufficiently to handle a larger volume of signatures-per-slot with equal ease.
The dangers of "overstretching" Ethereum's consensus beyond its basic functions of validating blocks and providing network security was highlighted by Vitalik Buterin back in May.
Published At
12/28/2023 8:52:36 AM
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