Buterin proposed to significantly lower the threshold for verifiers and promote network decentralization
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin (V God) recently proposed in his personal blog that the pledge threshold for Ethereum validators will be significantly reduced from the current 32 Ethereum coins to 1 Ethereum coin. This move aims to solve the current high threshold problem that prevents more people from participating in independent staking and further promote the decentralization of the Ethereum network.
Buterin noted: “Survey after survey has repeatedly shown that the main factor preventing more people from independent staking is the 32 Ethereum minimum. Lowering the minimum to 1 Ethereum will solve this problem and allow more People can participate in online verification."
Currently, validators participating in the Ethereum validation process are required to lock up 32 ether, which is approximately $84,000 at current prices. This is undoubtedly a high threshold for many individuals who want to contribute to the security of Ethereum but have limited funds.
Lowering the staking requirements will not only attract more independent validators, but also alleviate the problem of network centralization. According to data from Dune, ether currently staked on liquidity staking platform Lido Finance accounts for 28.08% of total Ethereum pledged volume. More independent validators will help decentralize the network and improve overall security and stability.
Source: Dune Ethereum pledge data
Single slot finality and technical challenges, accelerating transaction confirmation time
In addition to lowering the pledge threshold, Buterin also proposed the concept of "single-slot finality" for transactions, aiming to shorten the final confirmation time of Ethereum transactions from the current approximately 15 minutes to only 12 seconds. Currently, Ethereum operates based on epochs. Each epoch lasts about 6.4 minutes and consists of 32 slots. Each block takes about 12 seconds. Transactions require two epochs to reach final confirmation, which has room for improvement in user experience and network efficiency.
Buterin explained that achieving single-slot finality would make Ethereum’s performance comparable to those of more centralized, performance-focused Layer 1 chains. “Combined with lower staking requirements, this would align Ethereum’s properties with those of (more centralized) performance-focused Layer 1 chains,” he said.
However, this improvement also faces technical challenges. Lowering the staking threshold may increase the number of validators, which may affect the efficiency and operating costs of the network. To this end, Buterin proposed a variety of possible solutions, including utilizing advanced cryptography techniques or introducing a two-tier system for stakers to balance the security and efficiency of the network.
Image source: Vitalik Single Slot Finality Example
Community reaction and future prospects, Ethereum continues to move towards decentralization
The Ethereum community has long discussed the issue of staking accessibility, with many independent stakers frustrated by the 32 Ether requirement. Buterin’s proposal is seen as an important step in solving this problem and could significantly change the staking landscape of Ethereum, allowing more small participants to contribute to the security of the network.
However, implementation of the proposal requires extensive testing and research to ensure network stability is not affected. Lowering the staking threshold and achieving single-slot finality require overcoming technical and operational challenges.
If passed, this proposal would potentially open a new chapter in Ethereum’s decentralization, allowing thousands of validators to join the network with a threshold of just 1 Ether. This is in line with Ethereum’s long-term vision of providing accessibility and participation to a wider range of users.
At the same time, Ethereum's core developers are also preparing for the next major upgrade of the network - Pectra. The first part of the upgrade is expected to be released early next year and will adjust the way Ethereum stakers earn rewards. These continuous improvements reflect the Ethereum community’s determination to continuously promote technological innovation and improve network performance and user experience.
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