Ethereum Foundation Announces Leadership Restructure

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is undergoing a significant leadership transformation, according to co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

This restructuring has been in progress for almost a year. It aims to enhance the foundation’s efficiency and align it more closely with the Ethereum community’s evolving needs.

Ethereum Foundation Leadership Restructure

On January 18, Buterin shared on X that the leadership changes aim to address gaps in technical expertise. The updates are also intended to streamline operations within the Ethereum Foundation.

He added that the foundation seeks to improve collaboration with key ecosystem participants such as developers, wallets, Layer-2 networks, and individual users. The foundation’s priorities will also focus on promoting decentralization, privacy, and open-source principles. It will also advance its role in developing a robust, censorship-resistant app layer.

Additionally, the foundation plans to expand its use of decentralized technologies for internal processes, such as payments and treasury management.

Over the past year, the Ethereum Foundation has faced increased scrutiny over its passivity and concerns among community members about its spending and operational priorities. So, its current efforts aim to strengthen the foundation’s ties within the Ethereum ecosystem and rebuild trust.

Nevertheless, Buterin emphasized that the foundation will not engage in political lobbying or favor specific interests, maintaining its commitment to neutrality. Instead, it will focus on supporting the ecosystem’s growth by empowering developers and encouraging innovation.

“[Ethereum Foundation will not] start aggressively lobbying regulators and powerful political figures (esp in USA, but really anywhere, especially large powerful countries), and risking compromising Ethereum’s position as a global neutral platform,” Buterin stated.

Dual-Leadership Approach to Ethereum Foundation

Meanwhile, Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin proposed a dual-leadership approach to guide the foundation into its next phase.

He recommended Ethereum developer Danny Ryan and Ethereum France President Jérôme de Tychey as potential leaders to balance technical and business-focused strategies. Lubin highlighted their ability to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving blockchain landscape while preserving Ethereum’s core values.

“I believe that having Jerome and Danny partner to lead the EF would be a massive injection of energy, talent, outside the box thinking, creativity in marketing and drive — exactly what the Ethereum community needs today to show up for the world as the premiere, most diversely capable and most trusted blockchain ecosystem,” Lubin stated.

Lubin shared his thoughts on Ethereum’s role in the decentralized ecosystem. He suggested the blockchain should follow Switzerland’s example by maintaining neutrality. At the same time, Ethereum should actively promote its core values and technological advancements.

He explained that Switzerland fosters international relationships and promotes its philosophy while maintaining neutrality. Similarly, Ethereum can adopt this approach within the blockchain space.

“A somewhat credibly neutral nation state like Switzerland engages in vigorous activity to ensure that its APIs are well known and well utilized. It promotes its business and political philosophy and maintains active ambassadorial ties will all of its important peers and clients. Ethereum must Fight Fight Fight! for the future that we all need to create,” Lubin concluded.