As the ecosystem of Layer 2 (L2s) networks matures, many L2s are starting to think about how they decentralize their sequencers (and provers for zkEVMs).  Among the numerous L2s that exist, it is likely that there will emerge a variety of different approaches to doing this, and as more and more transaction volume migrates from the base layer to L2s, this will become a space that centralization and censorship concerns will shift to.  How then do we avoid the emergence of negative externalities for end-users of Ethereum on L2s?

We are interested in research that helps the ecosystem to understand if and how PBS might be implemented across L2s and what externalities this may cause.  How is PBS implemented within bounded and permissioned validator sets?  How are inclusion lists implemented?  What are the effects on centralization and censorship from the adoption of shared sequencers?  Do any decentralized sequencer topologies allow for implementation of distributed block building or partial block auctions?