Attester-proposer separation, assigning voting and block proposal separately
Strawmap L* (2029~30) · attester-proposer separation
Today one validator handles both block proposal and voting. This item splits the two jobs into different roles, so that voting is handled simply by many validators and block proposal is handled by separately selected proposers.
Why it is needed
Ethereum validators do two jobs. One is the attester role, voting on blocks made by others to finalize the chain, and the other is the proposer role, proposing a block when their turn comes. Voting is simple and anyone can do it, but proposing involves ordering transactions, so extra revenue called maximal extractable value (MEV) is at stake. Parties with specialized equipment and strategies have an advantage, and timing games arise in which proposals are delayed to capture more revenue. Today block production is handed to external builders through mechanisms outside the protocol such as MEV-Boost, but this requires trusting intermediary relays, and small validators tend to be at a disadvantage in revenue. Attester-proposer separation is research into removing the right to propose from the set of voting validators altogether. Voting is handled simply and in a distributed way by many validators, and block proposal is handled by a separate proposer decided in advance by something like an auction. This lets validators keep their role simple and lets the value created by proposal competition be handled inside the protocol. Ethereum Foundation researchers have discussed it on ethresear.ch through design proposals such as execution tickets. The L* cell on the Strawmap is only an estimate, and the work is still at the research stage, so the design may change or be dropped.
How it works
- Split the role in two Validators become attesters that only vote, and the authority to propose blocks is separated into its own role. Attesters do only simple work, so small participants can keep taking part.
- Decide proposal rights in advance Who proposes the block for which slot is decided ahead of time through something like an auction. The execution ticket design discusses buying proposal rights in advance as tickets.
- Proposers build blocks and attesters finalize them The designated proposer puts out a block containing transactions, and attesters check whether the block follows the rules and vote. Once votes are collected, the block is finalized on the chain.