Ethereum Proposal Would Let Validators Donate Up to 10% of Staking Rewards to Ecosystem

Ethereum uses proof of stake, with validators staking ETH to secure the network and earn rewards. Open-source tools, research and public infrastructure, however, have long lacked stable funding. The Ethereum Research forum is therefore discussing a protocol-level funding channel that would direct part of the returns generated by network security back into the ecosystem.

The latest proposal calls for a “validator revenue routing” mechanism that would allow validators to direct 0% to 10% of their staking rewards to a designated routing contract. If a majority of validators support a particular percentage, that rate would become mandatory. The proposal has not announced a formal launch date, fundraising target or voting timetable.