$ETH Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of the Ethereum platform and a prominent researcher in blockchain technology, presented a forward-looking vision for designing blockchain mechanisms, calling for a "two-layer structure" that combines accountability with a decentralized preference formation resistant to takeover.
Buterin's concept sought to address governance and coordination challenges in decentralized systems by separating execution from the adjudication of preferences, marking a shift from token-based voting dominance to more flexible and integrated mechanisms.
In a recent post on platform X (formerly Twitter) in response to community discussions about the design of decentralized platforms, Buterin described a framework consisting of two distinct layers:
High openness and accountability executive layer - similar to prediction markets, where participants' decisions are subject to economic incentives and penalties.
Decentralized and pluralistic preference and governance layer - designed to be resistant to capture, unfunded, and not token-based, favoring anonymous voting mechanisms like MACI to prevent collusion and centralization of influence.
How the two-layer structure works
According to Buterin's description, the first layer functions similarly to prediction markets, where correctness is rewarded and errors lead to financial loss. This structure enhances accountability as participants' interests are directly tied to the outcomes, making it difficult for malicious actors to influence decisions without incurring economic risk.
The second layer focuses on embedding collective preferences and judgments in a pluralistic and decentralized manner. Buterin emphasized the need for this level to avoid governance based on digital tokens - where ownership equates to voting power - as these systems are prone to exploitation, including 51% attacks or disproportionate influence by large token holders. Instead, he proposed anonymous voting systems, preferably implemented using minimal infrastructure for anti-collusion (MACI) or similar protocols to enhance privacy, making it difficult for participants to coordinate vote buying or dominate outcomes. $ETH