TL;DR
- The alignment on Ethereum seeks to integrate decentralization and cooperation between various projects.
- Metrics are proposed to make alignment more understandable and measurable.
- Decentralizing monitoring helps maintain neutrality in the ecosystem.
Ethereum, as one of the leading decentralized ecosystems, faces a significant societal challenge: achieving effective alignment between the numerous teams and projects that comprise it.
These projects, which include application developers, research teams, local communities, and infrastructure-focused groups, work toward their own goals, but must do so in a way that does not create a fragmented environment.
In other words, the key is to integrate decentralization with cooperation, so that the ecosystem does not become a sum of isolated and incompatible projects.
The concept of “Ethereum alignment” has emerged as a possible solution.
This alignment can be divided into three fundamental aspects: values, technology and economy.
The idea is that projects within the ecosystem share certain principles such as supporting public goods, using common technological standards, and using ETH as a token, whenever possible.
However, this concept has been difficult to clearly define, creating risks of capture at the social level, where a project’s success might depend more on the right contacts than on its true alignment with ETH.
To solve this problem, it is proposed to break down the concept of alignment into specific properties that can be measured with clear metrics.
For example, the use of free software and open standards would ensure interoperability and avoid dependence on centralized infrastructures.
Additionally, a project’s ability to continue operating if its team disappears, or resistance to insider attacks, are key metrics that could measure a project’s security and decentralization.
Likewise, projects that contribute to the Ethereum ecosystem through donations or open source developments would also be evaluated positively.
The importance of making alignment readable on Ethereum
A crucial aspect of this proposal is the creation of independent entities, such as L2beat, that track and monitor how well projects meet established criteria.
This would allow projects to compete not by social influence, but by their degree of alignment with Ethereum‘s principles.
Furthermore, this approach could serve as a clear guide for the Ethereum Foundation (EF) and other organizations when deciding which projects to support or fund, without compromising the neutrality of the ecosystem.
The aim is to make the alignment clear and understandable to everyone, which would facilitate decision-making at all levels.
In the long run, this would prevent the ecosystem from fragmenting and create an environment where competition is based on merit rather than social connections.
By decentralizing monitoring and creating clearer metrics, Ethereum can move towards greater fairness and inclusion, staying true to the principles that have made the project a pillar of decentralization globally.
