Vitalik Proposes Plan to Curb Block Builder Centralization and Toxic MEV
Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin unveiled a proposal on March 2, 2026 focused on reducing the concentration of power among block builders and limiting what he calls “toxic MEV,” the practice where traders profit from visibility into pending transactions to front‑run or sandwich other users. The proposal centers on protocol-level changes intended to reduce transaction visibility and alter incentives that currently favor large, specialized builders, though Buterin stopped short of publishing a full implementation blueprint. This matters because centralization and toxic MEV can raise costs, increase slippage for retail users, and concentrate revenue away from the broader validator and staking ecosystem. If adopted, the plan could make block construction more competitive and protect ordinary ETH users, but it will require community debate and careful design to balance searcher incentives, builder economics, and overall network security.