In This Post
1. Vitalik Buterin rejects centralization claims in Ethereum development.
2. Concerns raised by Péter Szilágyi about the PeerDAS upgrade.
3. Efforts discussed to minimise centralization in Ethereum’s future.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum recently addressed the concern about centralisation within the Ethereum development. The controversy began after statement of a key member of the Ethereum development team, Péter Szilágyi, in which he expressed his concerns about the direction of the project. Buterin’s response highlighted that Ethereum is continuously putting efforts to remain decentralised.
Vitalik Buterin Rejects Centralization Claims
Vitalik Buterin has clearly rejected the claims that Ethereum’s research and development are in the direction of centralisation. Although these claims were made by Peter Szilágyi who happens to be head of Ethereum’s development team, he expressed his concerns about centralisation publicly. Buterin’s response came after he attended a foundation research workshop, where he emphasised that decentralisation should remain a priority for the development team. Discussions were also very heavily focused on minimising centralisation.
During that workshop, there were several strategies that were analysed to reduce the centralisation risks. These strategies included exploring multiple proposers to potentially eliminate the builder role, that will enhance the power of inclusion list and considering fork selection based on transaction inclusiveness. Additionally, Buterin mentions that they are speeding up the development of the Orbit mechanism, which could lower the minimum deposit size, making it more accessible for individuals.
Controversy Over PeerDAS Upgrade
The debate on centralisation started by Szilágyi’s concerns about the proposed PeerDAS upgrade. With this upgrade, they are aiming to increase the ethereum blob size to 32MB. Szilágyi argues that this upgrade could make it more difficult for home stakers to participate in the network. He argued that this change might compromise decentralisation and will favour larger and more centralised entities over individual stakers.
Szilágyi expressed his concerns on social media, which suggested that researches where ‘murdering’ home stakers and accepting centralisation as long as it could be verified. This bold statement led to a major debate within the Ethereum community about the future and the direction of the project and its commitments to decentralisation.
Buterin’s Commitment to Decentralization
In response to these ongoing concerns, Vitalik Buterin reassured the Ethereum community that decentralisation will remain a core principle of Ethereum’s development. He also outlined the various descriptions from the workshop that focused on ensuring that this network will remain as decentralised as possible. This commitment was crucial in order to maintain the trust and participation of the Ethereum community.
Ethereum vs. Bitcoin Decentralization
Buterin has previously compared Ethereum’s decentralisation to other networks like Bitcoin. Speaking at ETHCC in Brussels, he highlighted that Ethereum is more robust and decentralised than Bitcoin. He pointed out that while two mining pools control 50% of Bitcoin’s computing power and four pools make up 75%, Ethereum’s network is largely operated by unidentified individuals or independent stakers. This comparison underscores Ethereum’s dedication to decentralisation, even as it continues to grow and evolve.
Looking Forward
Vitalik Buterin’s response to centralization concerns emphasises Ethereum’s ongoing efforts to maintain a decentralised network. Despite the controversy over the PeerDAS upgrade, Buterin and the Ethereum team are committed to ensuring that the network remains accessible and decentralised for all participants. This commitment is essential for the continued success and integrity of the Ethereum network as it navigates the complexities of blockchain technology and development.
