is often criticized for its centralization relative to Bitcoin

is often criticized for its centralization relative to Bitcoin. Indeed, Proof Of Stake is much more centralized than Proof Of Work. In this regard, I would like to talk about the "node hosting" that govern some services that revolve around Ethereum: Wallet, Web domains, etc. For example, is an infrastructure used by many Ethereum service providers, including the METAMASK wallet, which allows you to not have its own full node (basically it is similar to Amazon Web Service). If you have to offer a service and have no resources, you can rely on Infura. Infura was launched in 2016. At the time, the goal behind the launch was to make it easier to access the Ethereum and IPFS networks. Infura Ethereum's API has supported more than 430,000 developers who are now building products that revolve around blockchain games, decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). What's the problem with all of this? If you rely on Infura you are using a third party and above all a centralized service (as regards the infrastructure). Infura, among other things, is American and therefore subject to government taxation. For example, last year, Metamask relying on Infura had had censorship problems in some countries so the Ethereum network was unusable. In fact, Metamask uses the Infura end-point by default. Basically it is possible to access Ethereum by connecting to any full node in a decentralized way, however using Metamask which by default uses Infura, if the latter decides to blacklist IP addresses due to government decisions, censorship is implemented. Ethereum is unusable but in reality in these cases it is enough to change the RPC URL on Metamask, precisely because the censorship is infrastructural and does not depend on the blockchain. Here is a list of RPC URL:

Infura will try to become more decentralized in the future by using nodes scattered around the world. This infrastructure provider is controlled by Joseph Lubin's ConsenSys who also developed the Metamask wallet. In addition to supporting developers on Ethereum, Infura also supports other web3 products such as Ethereum Name Service (a well-known incensurable NFT domain service) and Layer 2. It also supports a wide range of blockchain API to build a multi-chain network. The shift to greater decentralization will come in 2023.

As of early 2021, more than 6,000 (55%) of all Ethereum nodes were running on hosting providers, most notably 2,500 (35%) on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The runner-up for the most Ethereum nodes was home-made, with a decent 4,500 (or 38.91%). The advantage of having your own full node, in addition to favoring decentralization, allows you not to worry that AWS may not work or that some other hosting provider is used for a dapp slowing down the network. We can mention Allnodes, Quicknode, Alchemy or Infura himself, the number 1 provider of node-as-a-service, which has also had other interruptions throughout its history. Most of the nodes are linked together, so blocks would continue to pass, even if the network would slow down (there would be fewer validated transactions). Those who have their own full node would see no difference. In reality, hosting providers such as Infura and AWS not only have negative aspects but are essential for the proper functioning of the network. Managing over 800 GB of storage just to sync the chain and then adding 1 GB every day isn't practical for the average person. Furthermore, there was hardly any economic incentive to run a node.

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