proposer-builder-separation topic
Overview
Proposer-builder separation (PBS) is an Ethereum architecture that divides the functions currently performed by one validator: specialised block builders construct blocks and submit bids to the validator appointed as proposer, who picks the highest-value bid without viewing the block's content. Ethereum developers are working on PBS for three reasons: it makes transaction censorship more difficult, particularly when paired with tools like inclusion lists and encrypted mempools; it distributes MEV income across all validators, including individual home stakers, instead of concentrating it among sophisticated operators; and it is necessary for Danksharding, where builders must generate proofs for large data volumes. Ethereum's development plan lists enshrined PBS as still in an advanced research phase with no completed specification.
Within The Counterparty graph, proposer-builder-separation connects to 24 tracked entities, most strongly to Decentralization of Ethereum's Builder Market, SoK: The Evolution of Maximal Extractable Value, From Miners to Cross-Chain, Measuring CEX-DEX Extracted Value and Searcher Profitability: The Darkest of the MEV Dark Forest.
Relations
Top connections in The Counterparty knowledge graph (confidence-weighted, 10 of 24 total).
| Relation | Connected entity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
covers_topic | Decentralization of Ethereum's Builder Market | 85% |
covers_topic | SoK: The Evolution of Maximal Extractable Value, From Miners to Cross-Chain | 85% |
covers_topic | Measuring CEX-DEX Extracted Value and Searcher Profitability: The Darkest of the MEV Dark Forest | 85% |
covers_topic | MEV in Binance Builder | 85% |
covers_topic | Private Order Flows and Builder Bidding Dynamics: The Road to Monopoly in Ethereum's Block Building Market | 85% |
covers_topic | PROF: Protected Order Flow in a Profit-Seeking World | 85% |
covers_topic | A First Look at Ethereum Blob Revolution: Market, Strategies, and Optimality | 85% |
covers_topic | Boost+: Equitable, Incentive-Compatible Block Building | 85% |
covers_topic | From Competition to Centralization: The Oligopoly in Ethereum Block Building Auctions | 85% |
covers_topic | Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation in the presence of Maximal Extractable Value | 85% |
Sources
Facts in this record were checked against the following. Where a claim is not covered here, the record states only what the graph holds.
Questions on the record
What does PBS separate?
Block building and block proposing are separated: builders construct blocks and submit bids for inclusion, while the proposer selects a bid without viewing the block's contents.
Why is PBS considered good for decentralization?
PBS enables MEV revenue to accrue to any validator, including individual home stakers, rather than concentrating it among institutional operators that possess superior extraction capabilities.
Is PBS live on Ethereum?
Enshrined PBS is not yet operational on Ethereum; the roadmap indicates it remains in an advanced research phase with unresolved design questions.