The founder of Kleros has put forward a controversial proposal for Ethereum validators: a semi-voluntary redirect rate that would channel a portion of staking rewards into shared infrastructure. If a majority of validators agree to the scheme, it would become mandatory for all validators on the network. The idea has already sparked debate across the Ethereum community.
How the redirect rate would work
Under the proposal, validators could choose to redirect a percentage of their staking rewards to fund shared Ethereum infrastructure — think client development, research, or public goods. The key twist is the opt-in threshold. If enough validators voluntarily participate — a majority — the redirect rate flips from voluntary to mandatory for everyone. Validators who don't want to redirect funds themselves would still have to contribute, though they would get to pick which organization receives their share.
The voluntary-to-mandatory mechanism
This design is meant to solve a collective action problem. No single validator has a strong incentive to fund shared infrastructure, but the network as a whole benefits. By making the rate mandatory once a majority signs on, the proposal tries to avoid free-riding while still letting the community signal its preference. Critics argue that forcing a mandatory tax on a minority, even with a majority vote, sets a dangerous precedent for Ethereum's permissionless ethos.
Why it's controversial
The timing isn't great. Ethereum is still working through its post-merge evolution, and validator rewards have been a sensitive topic. Some see the redirect as an elegant way to fund public goods without relying on foundations or external donors. Others call it a backdoor tax that could alienate solo stakers and small validators. The Kleros founder hasn't provided specifics on the percentage or the exact list of eligible organizations, which has only added to the uncertainty.
Whether a majority of validators will ever agree to make the redirect rate mandatory is an open question. The proposal is in its early stages, and the debate is likely to intensify before any sort of formal vote or implementation is discussed.
