Ethereum is a fascinating beast. As it stands, the network faces some serious challenges to its foundational principles. Centralization is a big one, and if you look closely, you'll see that 95% of block production is in the hands of just two entities! Beaverbuild and Titanbuild are their names, and they’re pretty much running the show. This situation opens the door to transaction censorship—something we all hope to avoid in a truly decentralized ecosystem.
The Proposal: Fork-choice Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL)
Enter EIP 7805, which proposes something called Fork-choice Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL). Sounds fancy, right? But what does it actually do? At its core, FOCIL aims to shift power away from block builders (the folks who assemble blocks) and into the hands of validators (those who verify blocks). Here’s how it breaks down:
Power Redistribution
Under this proposal, a random committee of 16 validators will be selected for each block. These validators will create lists of transactions that must be included in the next block. Block builders are then required to include these transactions if they want their block voted on. Essentially, it makes sure that no single entity can decide which transactions get censored or included based solely on profit motives.
Ensuring Fair Play
The inclusion lists generated by this validator committee serve as a mandate for transaction inclusion. So even if a block builder wanted to exclude certain transactions because they don’t maximize their profits, they can’t—because doing so would mean losing votes from the very validators who are supposed to be verifying their work.
The Double-Edged Sword
While EIP 7805 has some compelling arguments in favor of it, there are also potential pitfalls that shouldn't be ignored.
Risk of Validator Committee Centralization
One glaring issue is the risk of centralization within these randomly selected validator committees. If a small group happens to get picked repeatedly (which isn't too far-fetched), they could collude and effectively render the proposal useless.
Transaction Efficiency Concerns
Another concern is efficiency. Isn’t Ethereum already struggling with high fees? Adding another layer of complexity might not help matters. But proponents argue that by reducing incentives for complex MEV strategies (Maximal Extractable Value), we could actually streamline things—if everyone plays nice.
Scalability Issues
Lastly, there’s scalability. The added complexity might hinder Ethereum's ability to scale effectively. However, those familiar with Vitalik Buterin's vision know that future upgrades are already being discussed; maybe this isn’t such a big worry after all?
Summary: A Necessary Evil?
EIP 7805 seems like it could be an important step towards enhancing Ethereum's decentralization and censorship resistance—but only time will tell if it's effective or just another unconvincing blockchain proposal destined for obscurity.
