Vitalik Buterin’s proposal for a lighter PoS system

A revolutionary step towards a simplified Ethereum

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has come up with a groundbreaking proposal to increase the efficiency of the Ethereum blockchain. This proposal, which focuses on making proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms simpler and lighter, could be a game-changer for blockchain technology.

Reducing the Burden: Changes in Validator Signatures

On December 28, Buterin introduced a strategy to reduce the number of signatures required by verifiers. This reduction is expected to significantly reduce the load on the Ethereum network. The current system supports a large number of validators, approximately 895,000, in an effort to achieve decentralization and promote broader participation in staking.

However, this large number of validators poses significant technical challenges. The network is tasked with processing about 28,000 signatures per slot, which Buterin describes as an excessively high load.

Addressing technical challenges and engagement issues

Buterin highlighted some of the trade-offs of supporting these loads, including limited quantum resistance, complex fork processes, and the need to scale signatures through sophisticated methods such as zero-knowledge proofs (SNARKs). Moreover, the current system falls short of its goal of enabling widespread participation due to the high minimum stake required to become a validator.

Propose a balanced solution

To solve this problem, Buterin proposes a modest approach that reduces the number of signatures per slot from the existing 28,000 to about 8,192. This change will lead to significant technical simplification, improve quantum resistance, and maintain a high total severable ETH (1-2 million ETH). Slashable ETH is an important mechanism to encourage good validator behavior.

Buterin proposed three potential ways to achieve this goal. A fully decentralized staking pool, a two-tier staking system with both ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ options, and a rotating participation model with an accountable committee.

Manageable future load forecasting

The main advantage of Buterin’s proposal is that it establishes a predictable and manageable future signature load. These predictions will greatly simplify protocol and infrastructure development. “The future load of the Ethereum protocol is no longer known,” Buterin said, noting that signature load could increase through hard forks in the future, but only if technological advancements allow it to efficiently support a larger number of signatures per slot. added. .

Buterin’s caution against overextension

Last May, Buterin warned against overextending Ethereum’s consensus mechanism beyond its main functions of block verification and network security. This new proposal is consistent with his vision for a streamlined and efficient blockchain while remaining faithful to its core purpose.