Vitalik Buterin Considers Including Features in the Ethereum Staking Protocol

Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, recently shared his thoughts on the inclusion of certain protocols directly into Ethereum’s code versus having them operate “on top” of the blockchain.

In his blog post, Buterin discussed several protocols, including the account abstraction protocol ERC-4337, ZK-EVMs, private mempools, code precompiles, and liquid staking, offering insights into the complex trade-offs associated with each.

Ethereum’s Original Minimal-Enshrinement Philosophy

Buterin highlighted that Ethereum has adhered to a philosophy of keeping the core protocol as simple as possible from its inception. Instead of trying to accommodate every possible feature at the base layer, Ethereum has favored building protocols on top of the blockchain. 

This approach aligns with the broader blockchain community’s distinction between Layer 1 (L1) and Layer 2 (L2) solutions, typically associated with scalability concerns. However, Ethereum’s utility has grown far beyond its initial vision of being a decentralized world computer. 

It now serves an ecosystem of diverse users with multifaceted needs, including digital asset exchange, privacy enhancements, account safety, censorship resistance, and more. In response to this evolution, Buterin noted that there is a growing interest within the Ethereum community in enshrining certain features in the core Ethereum protocol. 

Vitalik Buterin on Enshrining Protocols in Ethereum’s Code

Buterin expressed a subtle stance on whether specific protocols should be enshrined within Ethereum’s core code. He seemed more inclined to support the incorporation of some protocols, such as ERC-4337, while remaining cautious about others, like private mempools. 

However, Buterin recognized that the decision to include or exclude protocols is not straightforward and that it involves intricate trade-offs that may evolve over time. Ethereum, as a decentralized ecosystem, seeks to balance innovation with security and network efficiency, a challenge that requires ongoing evaluation.

Concerns about the Concentration of Liquid Staking

Another critical aspect of Buterin’s blog post was his expressed concerns about the concentration of Ethereum’s liquid staking providers. Liquid staking involves staked assets being tokenized and made tradable, offering liquidity to those who have committed their cryptocurrency for validation purposes.

Lido Finance, one of the most popular liquid staking pools, presently holds more than 32% of all staked Ether. Notably, this percentage is dispersed between multiple validators, alleviating some concerns about centralization. Buterin emphasized that Lido and another big service, Rocket Pool, each have their own set of hazards.

While these providers implement safety mechanisms, Buterin hinted that more could be done to ensure decentralization and security within liquid staking networks. The risk of centralization poses a threat to Ethereum’s overarching goal of being a decentralized blockchain.