Buterin Proposes Standards for Ethereum Alignment

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed developing metrics to measure how aligned various projects are with Ethereum’s values.

In a blog post last Friday, Buterin stated that achieving “Ethereum alignment” is one of the most important social challenges within the ecosystem. He explained that the wide range of developers, researchers, and local communities all have different visions, and the challenge is to ensure they contribute to “one Ethereum ecosystem, and not 138 incompatible fiefdoms.”

Openness and Interoperability as Key Metrics for Ethereum Alignment

Buterin suggested that a project’s degree of openness can serve as a key metric for alignment. He said that while open-source code allows for inspection and improves security, it also reduces the risk of proprietary lock-in. “Core infrastructure components that the ecosystem depends on absolutely should be open source,” Buterin said, calling open standards the “gold standard” for Ethereum projects.

Interoperability was another metric suggested, with Buterin proposing that applications and wallets could be rated by which Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC) standards they support. He encouraged projects to build on open standards like ERC-20 and ERC-1271, adding that new standards should be introduced when necessary.

To ensure decentralization and security, he proposed two tests for evaluating projects. He introduced the “walkaway test,” asking, “If your team and servers disappear tomorrow, will your application still be usable?” He also mentioned the “insider attack test,” which questions how much damage could be done if a team itself tries to attack the system. Buterin suggested that both tests could help measure the decentralization and security of Ethereum-based projects.

Positive Contribution to the Ethereum Ecosystem

Buterin emphasized that Ethereum projects should positively contribute to the broader community. He asked projects to consider whether they improve financial inclusion or provide public goods. “Ethereum is here to make the world a more free and open place, enable new forms of ownership and collaboration, and contribute positively to important challenges facing humanity,” Buterin wrote. He recommended that projects reflect on how they contribute to these goals.

Buterin suggested that entities like L2beat could emerge to track Ethereum project alignment based on these metrics. However, he stressed that the Ethereum Foundation should distance itself from the process to avoid centralization.

Lawrence does not hold any crypto asset. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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