Ethereum Infrastructure Funding: Kleros Founder Proposes Protocol-Level Validator Redirect Rate
A controversial proposal has emerged to address Ethereum’s infrastructure funding challenges, traditionally managed by the Ethereum Foundation or third parties. Clément Lesaege, founder of Kleros and Proof of Humanity, suggests implementing a protocol-level redirect rate that would allow validators to direct part of their staking income to organizations managing shared infrastructure.
The proposal is semi-voluntary: it would activate only if the majority of validators agree, but would then become mandatory for all validators on the network. Validators can set the recipients and the percentage of funds they receive, up to a maximum of 10%.
Lesaege argues that this measure is essential to solve the “free rider problem,” where individuals and institutions benefit from joint infrastructure without contributing. “Successfully coordinating shared investment is essential to compete with both traditional economic systems that use coercive measures like taxation to reduce their deadweight loss and corporations that reinvest earnings back into future growth,” he stated.
However, the proposal acknowledges potential risks, such as validator cartelization, where validators could increase the redirect rate and redirect funds back to themselves.
The Ethereum community has reacted critically on social media, with some labeling it as “communist” and a “tax.” Via Network’s Romano commented, “So paying taxes now? After the ethereum foundation kept dumping their own ethereum. What came out of this ecosystem anyway and was it all worth it?”
This proposal follows warnings from former Ethereum Foundation lead Trent Van Epps that core developers could face a funding shortage within three to nine months.