Ethereum

Ethereum is the world computer. The universal platform for cryptocurrencies, blockchain apps, stablecoins, and decentralized technologies.

🧵 Validator Rewards & MEV on @ethereum since The Merge 🧠
Since Ethereum’s transition to Proof of Stake (The Merge), validator income dynamics have changed.
Let’s explore where rewards come from — staking, tips, MEV — and how they’ve evolved. (+ real charts 👇)

1/
Validators on @ethereum earn from two layers:
• Consensus Layer: issuance from staking
• Execution Layer: user-paid tips + MEV

On average:

~80% of rewards = staking

~17% = tips (priority fees)

~3% = MEV

📊 Here’s the breakdown 👇

Fakhou | Builder & Educator 🚀

@base advocate & Global builder
Helping everyone level up on @base

2/
Most blocks don’t carry meaningful MEV.
In fact, over 50% of blocks deliver no MEV reward at all.
But some rare blocks pay huge MEV rewards — creating an extreme long tail.

🎰 Here’s a histogram of MEV per block:

One validator earned 689 ETH in one block — over $1.2M.

3/
Timeline view: total monthly validator earnings since The Merge 👇
You can clearly see cycles of high activity (meme seasons, volatility, etc.)

🟣 Staking rewards = stable
🟠 Tips & MEV = volatile, network-dependent

4/
Notable spikes:

April–May 2023: memecoin mania → high gas → big tips

Liquidation events → large MEV blocks

MEV rewards > 6,000 ETH paid in a single day during peak volatility

These illustrate how validator revenue can surge under pressure.

5/
💡 TL;DR

Most of a validator’s income is from staking

MEV & tips add a volatile but lucrative bonus

MEV is rare, but huge when it hits

MEV-Boost is essential to capture these rewards

@ethereum PoS isn’t just greener — it’s economically more dynamic.

6/
If you're running validators or building infra around it, understanding this reward composition is key.

Next time someone says "validators just stake and chill" — show them the MEV charts. 🔍