Ethereum validators may redirect rewards to public goods
6.6 Tech A proposal would let Ethereum validators redirect up to 10% of staking rewards to public goods if over 51% agree, potentially raising 50,000–70,000 ETH yearly for ecosystem projects.
A new proposal from Kleros founder Clément Lesaege suggests that Ethereum validators could redirect between 0% and 10% of their staking rewards to fund public goods and shared infrastructure in the Ethereum ecosystem. If more than 51% of validators agree, the selected redirect rate would become mandatory for all validators. Validators would be able to choose funding recipients and allocation proportions, with execution clients aggregating results using methods like King-of-the-Hill or Condorcet Winner. The proposal aims to address Ethereum’s ongoing funding gap for shared infrastructure, potentially channeling 50,000 to 70,000 ETH annually—about $120 million at current prices—toward ecosystem projects. Supporters highlight the community-driven approach, while critics warn of possible validator influence concentration and the risk that staking operators, rather than ETH holders, could control fund allocation. The proposal remains under discussion within the Ethereum community.
