Relays

The ETHGas Relay

Relays serves as a trusted intermediary between validators and builders. In the standard PBS flow, builders constantly submit blocks to the Relay. Validators then retrieve the most profitable block header without the body from the Relay and then submit the signed header back to the Relay in return for the release of the block body containing the transactions.

ETHGas' preconf flow is quite similar to the PBS flow, with the addition that the Relay may perform an extra set of checks on blocks submitted by the builders to ensure all preconf transactions of the specific slot are included. Validators have to connect to our relay or other authorized Relays to receive the block headers, otherwise Validators may end up signing a header without honoring all preconf commitments thus resulting in slashing.

Currently, our relay runs within an Optimistic Mode, that enables blocks to propagate without simulation.

Our relay is currently based on the mev-boost-relay developed by Flashbots.

Check the Technical Integration for relay URLs in different regions.

Other Authorized Relays

Validators must source blocks only from the ETHGas relay as it is the only relay equipped to verify the blockspace commitments. ETHGas is in discussions with other Relays, however, to stream the commitments and assist with block propagation. More on this soon.