EIP-7732: A New Milestone in Separating Authors from Builders
EIP-7732 Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation, abbreviated as EPBS, is a significant improvement proposal for Ethereum. It will change the way Ethereum block validation is done by separating execution validation from consensus validation in terms of logic and time, thus enhancing the efficiency and security of the blockchain operation.
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EIP-7732 was proposed by Francesco D’Amato, Barnabé Monnot, Michael Neuder, Potuz, Terence Tsao, and others, and was created on June 28, 2024. The core of this proposal is to separate the execution verification and consensus verification of Ethereum blocks, and to enhance the overall performance and security of the blockchain by introducing new options and responsibilities.
Principle of EIP-7732EIP-7732 will change the verification method of Ethereum blocks by introducing the concept of "Builder" and new responsibilities to separate logic and time for validity verification, aiming to increase network propagation speed, reduce the possibility of block reorganization, and improve node verification efficiency. Technical details
Currently, the majority of Beacon block proposers outsource the execution payload construction of the block to a third party called the Builder. They request a commitment of the execution payload's hash root (HTR) and submit a signed Beacon blind block (SignedBlindedBeaconBlock) to a trusted party, which replaces the HTR and broadcasts the entire block. This EIP enables an untrusted fair exchange between Beacon block proposers and Builders, ensuring that honest proposers receive payment from Builders and ensuring that the valid payload of honest Builders becomes the head of the blockchain.
Specific Improvements- Separation of Verification Responsibilities: Currently, validators need to complete consensus and execution state transitions, check data availability, and assess new block headers within 4 seconds on the Ethereum mainnet. By separating the verification of block execution and consensus, validators only need to execute consensus state transitions within a critical time frame, while execution and data availability verification can be delayed to be completed within the majority of the remaining time.
- Increased Network Propagation Speed: By removing the complete execution payload from the consensus block, EIP-7732 makes network propagation faster on critical paths.
- Reduced Reorganization Possibility: This proposal also reduces the possibility of block reorganization due to large data transactions, and further enhances the stability of the blockchain in cases where Builders broadcast large data copies before Beacon block certification is released.
- Improved Verification Efficiency: Preventing validators from missing certifications, improving the weight properties of fork choice, and eliminating the need to delegate block construction using trusted middleware.
EIP-7732 represents a significant improvement in Ethereum's block verification process. By separating proposers from Builders, this proposal aims to enhance network efficiency, security, and stability, making Ethereum's operation more efficient and fair. This innovation will have a profound impact on the Ethereum ecosystem, further driving its technological development and widespread application.