Ethereum’s protocol co-owner Vitaly Buterin has published an updated technological progress guide that introduces a distinct phase which focuses to enhance the decentralization of the protocol’s web.
The update of the Ethereum web phases which now includes the Scourge -making it a total of six technological progress guide phases- was disclosed by the co-owner in a Twitter thread on November 5.
On September 5th, the protocol migrated to the proof-of-stake web and has since been on its second phase, the Surge, with the objective of reaching over 100,000 trades every second by rollups.
According to the update, the Scourge will now be the third phase and the other existing phases, the Verge, the Purge and the Splurge, comes afterwards.
The Scourge is outlined to “ensure reliable and credibly neutral transaction inclusion and to avoid centralization and other protocol risks from MEV.”
Miner Extractable Value (MEV) is said to take place when miners tailgate selected parties in the web by choosing which trade is to be positioned on the block.
So far, miners have repeatedly influenced trades on the Ethereum web for self-benefit and have caused an increase in centralization and alteration in the Ethereum network.
Since the Ethereum switch to PoS, block reports filed with the United States Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) have been estimated to be around 73%.
While there is limited information about the Scourge, Buterin has put forward a “Partial Block Auction” remedy to impede censorship. This remedy would help to restrict miners’ authority to influence blocks.
