The recent approval of Spot Ethereum ETFs has stirred conversations within the crypto community, raising concerns about the growing centralization of Ethereum.
Mona El Isa, the founder of Avantgarde, a pioneer in the blockchain industry, sheds light on the potential risks associated with this development. In a recent comment, El Isa highlighted the challenges posed by the concentration of power in Ethereum’s staking ecosystem and the implications of Spot Ethereum ETFs on the network’s decentralization.
Ethereum Staking Trends: El Isa expresses apprehension regarding the current state of Ethereum’s staking ecosystem, revealing a disconcerting trend where the top three staking pools control over 50% of the staking power. Furthermore, a staggering 91% of this power is either permissioned or centralized, leaving only a meager 9% for decentralized alternatives. The dominance of Lido, holding 85% of on-chain Liquid Staking Tokens dynamics, further emphasizes the concentration of power in the network.
Challenges and Urgent Need for Alternatives: With the imminent approval of Spot Ethereum ETFs, El Isa highlights the urgent need for new on-chain alternatives to address the growing centralization issue. She emphasizes that the current scenario demands a break from the existing monopoly, prompting the emergence of solutions like Diva Staking. El Isa reveals that Diva Staking has secured a commitment of up to 100,000 ETH via Octant for Public Goods Funding, offering a key-sharing approach powered by Enzyme. This approach aligns with the foundational principles of cryptocurrency, aiming to foster decentralization and community participation.
The call for new on-chain alternatives reflects a collective effort to preserve the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrency and create a more inclusive and community-driven ecosystem. As the crypto industry continues to evolve, finding a balance between institutional adoption and decentralization remains a critical consideration for the future of Ethereum and the broader blockchain space.