Ethereum Researcher Proposes Shared Random Algorithm to Decentralize Block Building

An Ethereum researcher has introduced a novel block proposal mechanism aimed at decentralizing Ethereum’s block-building process.

The proposal, dubbed the “Decentralized Random Block Proposal,” suggests implementing a shared random algorithm to eliminate Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) at the block level and distribute block construction more equitably across the network.

Pseudonymous researcher Malik672 detailed the concept in a March 1 post , explaining that while Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) model and the proposer-builder separation (PBS) system have mitigated MEV concentration to some extent, block-building remains highly centralized.

Ethereum’s Block Building Dominated by Few as Centralization Concerns Grow

The dominance of builders and relays has resulted in a system where only a few entities control a large portion of Ethereum’s blocks.

Ethereum Foundation researcher Toni Wahrstätter previously highlighted that two block builders, Beaverbuild and Titan Builder, were responsible for constructing 88.7% of Ethereum blocks in the first half of October 2024.

Though this concentration has since dropped to around 80%, Malik672 argues that this level of centralization remains a significant concern.

“This system flips that: block-building spreads to thousands of clients globally, fully democratizing the process,” Malik672 wrote.

“No single entity dominates—unlike PBS’s builder pool or a centralized mixer—and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) mitigates mempool variance, ensuring robustness.”

MEV—where block proposers extract value by reordering or censoring transactions—has led to manipulation strategies like arbitrage and front-running, often at the expense of regular Ethereum users.

Malik672 criticized this practice, saying it undermines Ethereum’s decentralization principles.

Under the new proposal, block construction would no longer be controlled by a handful of builders.

Instead, all Ethereum clients would participate using a cryptographically random selection process.

This approach, Malik672 claims, would prevent manipulation and create a more trustless and decentralized Ethereum network.

Additionally, the proposal aligns with Ethereum’s Danksharding roadmap, ensuring compatibility with layer-2 scaling solutions.

Malik672 also suggested that the mechanism could reduce slot times from the current 12 seconds to 6–8 seconds, improving transaction finality.

Ethereum Community Debates Faster Upgrade Rollout Amid Proposed Reforms

The proposal comes amid broader discussions within the Ethereum community on expediting Ethereum upgrades.

On Feb. 13, Ethereum developers agreed to accelerate the rollout of technical improvements, signaling a commitment to refining the blockchain’s infrastructure at a faster pace.

The Pectra upgrade, a significant enhancement to the Ethereum network, was activated on the Holesky testnet on February 25.

Activated at epoch 115,968, the upgrade aims to stress-test new features in a controlled environment.

Holesky, one of Ethereum’s primary test networks, is designed to simulate real-world conditions, enabling developers to identify and resolve potential issues before full deployment.

As reported, a significant on-chain metric supporting ETH’s long-term bullish case is its rapidly declining exchange supply .

As of now, only 6.38% of Ethereum’s total supply remains on centralized exchanges, marking the lowest level since its inception.

Meanwhile, Ethereum’s transaction fees have also plummeted to their lowest level since late August, averaging just $0.41 per transfer.