Vitalik proposes introducing a native DVT staking mechanism at the Ethereum protocol layer to enhance security and decentralization

On January 21, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently proposed a “Native DVT (Distributed Validator Technology)” solution on the Ethereum Research forum. The proposal suggests integrating DVT directly into the Ethereum staking protocol layer to enhance network security while promoting decentralization at the validator level. According to the proposal, validators can register multiple independent keys and operate collectively as “grouped validators”; only when a set threshold of key signatures is reached will block proposals or attestations be considered valid. This mechanism can significantly reduce the risk of single points of failure or validator downtime due to node compromise, while maintaining existing slashing protections under reasonable threshold settings. Vitalik pointed out that, unlike current DVT solutions that rely on external coordination layers and are complex to deploy, native DVT will be embedded directly into the protocol itself. Validators holding multiple times the minimum staking requirement (32 ETH) can set up to 16 keys and specify a signature threshold, effectively forming a validator identity composed of multiple standard nodes. He stated that this design incurs minimal performance overhead, adding only one extra delay for block production, without affecting attestation latency, and is compatible with any signature scheme, helping to reduce reliance on cryptographic assumptions that may pose long-term risks. On the decentralization front, Vitalik believes that native DVT makes it easier for individuals and institutions to participate in staking directly in a “self-custained, fault-tolerant” manner, rather than relying on large staking service providers, thereby improving decentralization metrics of the Ethereum validator set (such as the Gini coefficient). The proposal is still in the early discussion stage and will require extensive evaluation and consensus within the Ethereum community.