Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has unveiled a significant restructuring initiative within the Ethereum Foundation (EF), aimed at strengthening technical leadership and deepening engagement across the broader Ethereum ecosystem. This strategic transformation, developed over nearly a year, reflects a proactive effort to adapt to the evolving blockchain landscape while preserving the core principles that have defined Ethereum since its inception.
Preserving Core Values Amid Structural Evolution
Despite sweeping changes to its leadership framework, Buterin emphasized that the foundational vision of the Ethereum Foundation remains intact. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he confirmed that the overhaul is already underway—some elements have been implemented and publicly disclosed, while others are still in progress.
"We are indeed currently in the process of large changes to EF leadership structure, which has been ongoing for close to a year. Some of this has already been executed on and made public, and some is still in progress."
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin), January 18, 2025
The primary objectives of this reorganization include enhancing the technical depth of leadership roles and improving communication channels between the foundation and key stakeholders—ranging from individual developers and decentralized application (dApp) creators to wallet providers and Layer 2 scaling teams.
Importantly, Buterin clarified what this transformation does not entail: a shift toward centralization, increased political influence, or regulatory lobbying. He firmly stated:
"Become a highly centralized org, or even more of a ‘main character’ within Ethereum: These things aren’t what EF does and this isn’t going to change. People seeking a different vision are welcome to start their own orgs."
This reaffirmation underscores Ethereum’s enduring commitment to decentralization, open-source innovation, and community-driven governance.
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Strengthening Technical Leadership and Ecosystem Collaboration
A central pillar of the restructuring is the elevation of technical expertise within the foundation’s leadership ranks. As Ethereum continues to scale through upgrades like proto-danksharding and further rollup integration, having leaders with deep protocol-level knowledge is critical.
The foundation aims to:
- Attract top-tier blockchain engineers and cryptographers
- Accelerate high-impact research and development initiatives
- Provide stronger support for dApp developers building on Ethereum
- Champion privacy-enhancing technologies like zk-SNARKs
- Uphold censorship resistance and permissionless innovation
These efforts align with Ethereum’s long-term roadmap, particularly as it transitions into a more modular, scalable, and user-centric platform.
Recent Leadership Appointments Signal Renewed Direction
Several key personnel moves illustrate the direction of this transformation:
- Hsiao-Wei Wang joined the leadership team in January 2025, bringing over seven years of experience in core Ethereum research, particularly in consensus mechanisms and protocol security.
- Danny Ryan, a pivotal figure in Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake and lead developer behind “The Merge” and the Beacon Chain launch, departed in September 2024 after seven years of service.
- Joseph Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and CEO of Consensys, publicly endorsed new leadership models, suggesting Danny Ryan and Jérôme de Tychey, president of Ethereum France, as potential co-leaders.
Lubin praised the need for refreshed leadership amid rapid industry changes and highlighted de Tychey’s advocacy for clearer communication strategies—an essential step in fostering greater collaboration across global developer communities.
Addressing Community Concerns and External Challenges
The restructuring comes at a time of heightened scrutiny. Critics within the Ethereum community have voiced concerns about perceived stagnation in decision-making and outreach. The recent choice by former U.S. President Donald Trump to launch his official memecoin on Solana—rather than Ethereum—sparked renewed debate online about Ethereum’s competitiveness in the fast-moving consumer-facing crypto space.
While such events don’t directly impact protocol fundamentals, they highlight the importance of ecosystem agility and public perception. By refining its internal structure and amplifying engagement with developers and users alike, the Ethereum Foundation aims to reinforce its position as the leading platform for secure, scalable, and sustainable decentralized applications.
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FAQ: Understanding Ethereum Foundation’s Restructuring
Q: What is the main goal of the Ethereum Foundation’s leadership changes?
A: The primary goals are to enhance technical expertise among leaders, improve coordination with ecosystem participants, accelerate innovation, and maintain Ethereum’s core values of decentralization and open access.
Q: Is the Ethereum Foundation becoming more centralized?
A: No. Vitalik Buterin explicitly stated that centralization is not part of the plan. The foundation remains committed to decentralized governance and will not act as a dominant “main character” in the network’s evolution.
Q: Who are the new leaders joining the Ethereum Foundation?
A: Hsiao-Wei Wang has recently joined the leadership team. While no official appointments have been confirmed for Danny Ryan or Jérôme de Tychey as co-leaders, both have been suggested by Joseph Lubin as strong candidates for guiding future growth.
Q: Why did Danny Ryan leave the Ethereum Foundation?
A: After seven years of leading critical proof-of-stake initiatives—including “The Merge”—Ryan stepped down in September 2024. His departure marks a generational shift, allowing room for new voices while his contributions remain foundational to Ethereum’s success.
Q: How will these changes affect developers building on Ethereum?
A: Developers can expect improved support structures, faster feedback loops from core teams, and stronger alignment on priorities like scalability, privacy, and developer tooling—especially for Layer 2 solutions and rollup ecosystems.
Q: Are there any upcoming upgrades tied to this restructuring?
A: While not directly caused by leadership changes, ongoing protocol upgrades like EIP-4844 (proto-danksharding) and future sharding phases will benefit from more technically adept leadership capable of driving complex implementations efficiently.
A Strategic Shift for Long-Term Resilience
Vitalik Buterin’s announcement signals more than just administrative adjustments—it reflects a strategic recalibration designed to ensure Ethereum remains at the forefront of blockchain innovation. By prioritizing technical excellence, transparent communication, and inclusive collaboration, the foundation is positioning itself to meet the demands of a maturing ecosystem.
As Layer 2 networks expand and zk-tech adoption grows, having leaders who deeply understand these advancements will be crucial. The focus on nurturing open-source development and resisting centralized control ensures that Ethereum continues evolving as a truly public digital infrastructure.
This leadership evolution isn’t about radical reinvention—it’s about refinement. With clear intentions, experienced minds stepping into new roles, and an unwavering commitment to decentralization, the Ethereum Foundation is preparing for its next chapter with purpose and precision.