The Plan (tm)

1. Define the architecture of the communication between consensus client, execution client, and mev-boost.

✔️ mev-boost will be a sidecar. The consensus client opts-in to use mev-boost. If it fails for any reason, the consensus client falls back to direct communication to the execution client.

2. Write a basic specification that is conservative, centralized, and trusted.

✔️ Specification v0.2

3. Move the API to Ethereum specs, polish and make it ready to be implemented.

✔️ https://github.com/ethereum/builder-specs

4. Implement the specification in mev-boost and mergemock.

[Milestone: merge-ready.]

✔️ https://github.com/flashbots/mev-boost

✔️ https://github.com/protolambda/mergemock

5. Implement the specification in the flashbots builder.

✔️ https://builder-relay-ropsten.flashbots.net/ + https://builder-relay-kiln.flashbots.net/

[Milestone: merge-ready.]

6. Audit the version of mev-boost implementing the builder API v0.1.0.

✔️ https://github.com/flashbots/mev-boost/pull/223

[Milestone: merge-ready.]

7. Test with kiln and ropsten.

✔️ Flashbots builder on Kiln and Ropsten is up and running.

[Milestone: end-to-end-ready. Expected deadline, end of june]

8. Implement the specification in the consensus clients.

⏳ in progress, currently live testing

See also the consensus client implementation status table here: https://github.com/flashbots/mev-boost/wiki#implementation-status

[Milestone: all-client-support. Expected deadline, end of june]

9. Add requirements specific for validator pools.

[Milestone: validator-pool-extras. Expected deadline, mid july]

10. Add requirements specific for big validators.

[Milestone: big-extras. Expected deadline, end of july]

11. Add a second independent builder. [Expected deadline, mid august]

12. Explore the options for decentralization of the builders. [Expected deadline, september]

13. Explore the options for decentralization of the orderflow. [Expected deadline, october]

14. Second audit

https://github.com/flashbots/mev-boost/issues/224

[Milestone: safer-merge. Expected deadline, september]

15. Implement a relay monitor

[Milestone: safer-merge. Expected deadline, september]

16. Circuit breaker in consensus clients

[Milestone: safer-merge. Expected deadline, september]

17. [...]

18. Magic. [daily during sunset 🌞]

19. In protocol PBS. [Expected deadline, 2023]