Metis launches the alpha version of its decentralized sequencer

Ethereum Scaling Solution Metis METIS

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has launched an alpha version of its decentralized sequencer – a step beyond the current centralized single sequencer model used by Layer 2 rollups.

While rollups are a promising scaling solution for Ethereum, helping to increase transaction throughput and reduce fees – especially after Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade yesterday – they introduce elements of centralization , such as the use of sequencers and provers controlled by project teams which also retain revenue. the sequencer generates.

A sequencer is a component that orders and aggregates multiple off-chain transactions before submitting them to the Ethereum blockchain. A prover is a mechanism that generates cryptographic proofs to validate transactions without processing them on the main chain. These currently create single points of failure and potential censorship risks that could significantly impact users.

The development team behind Metis says today’s launch makes the EVM-compatible solution the first Ethereum rollup to decentralize its sequencer. The only way for rollups to fully inherit Ethereum’s underlying security is to have a decentralized anti-fraud system and a decentralized sequencer, the team added.

However, alpha releases in the crypto space are only available to a small group of users, allowing developers to test features in a controlled environment, gather feedback, fix bugs, and ensure stability before a wider version.

How the Metis decentralized sequencer works

The development will allow multiple parties to run sequencers and participate in the consensus process, designed to improve Métis security and decentralization while sharing revenue. According to the team, this also paves the way for sequencer rotation, making it more difficult for malicious actors to compromise the system and improving network stability.

Sequencer nodes earn METIS token rewards to incentivize their participation in block production and transaction processing on the network. In the first year, there will be a 20% mining reward rate (MRR) for all sequencer nodes – the rate at which smart contracts reward lockers (participants who lock governance tokens) for producing blocks.

Layer 2 Adoption Growth

Adoption of Layer 2 solutions has grown significantly over the past year, with combined daily transaction averages on networks like Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism (OP Mainnet) surpassing those on the Ethereum mainchain.

Throughput and fees are partly driving this trend, with layers 2 handling more eight times the number of transactions per second on average, according to L2BEAT, at a significantly lower cost than the base layer.

Metis co-founder Elena Sinelnikova told The Block in an interview last year that the network is distinguished from other Layer 2 solutions by its alignment with the MetisDAO Foundation – ultimately aiming to provide a fully decentralized network infrastructure operated by the community.

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