ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin proposed three methods to address potential “systemic complexity” stemming from the network's proof-of-stake consensus design.
In a December 27 post on ethereum Research ForumButerin described his ideas for solving a nascent problem caused by the increase in network validators and cryptographic signatures required for each blockchain slot.
The first way works by incentivizing mergers between teams of validators by increasing the minimum Ether (eth) needed to run an ethereum validator. This method revolves around decentralized network participation groups.
Second, Buterin suggested splitting the betting layers into two. One layer would present stricter parameters, while the other would offer more flexible conditions. Both layers would be independent and operate under slightly separate blockchain rules and aligned with the ethos of ethereum.
Buterin's third way proposed a mechanism to randomize a set of validators from a group of network participants. A different basket of these teams would sign in each position, thus maintaining the 8,192 signatures currently needed. This is the most complex alternative, according to the co-founder of ethereum.
ethereum validators have more than doubled since The Merge in September 2022, going from around 430,000 to over 895,000. This increase also means an increase in the signatures needed to perform network operations and maintain ethereum.
Upcoming updates like Dencun may also raise required signatures, adding additional burden, which Buterin hopes to avoid. Buterin previously shared his thoughts on improving decentralization by revamping staking on ethereum and expressed concern about the resumption of services. The developer also warned against DAOs operating staking pool nodes.
<img decoding="async" width="1024" height="477" src="https://crypto.news/app/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-137-1024×477.png” alt=”Vitalik Buterin”/>
