The Ethereum ecosystem has entered a pivotal new phase following the successful completion of the Pectra upgrade on May 7, 2025. With this milestone, the Ethereum Foundation’s newly appointed co-executive directors, Tamas Stanczak and Shay Wong, have stepped into the spotlight to clarify long-standing community concerns and outline a bold, forward-looking vision for Ethereum’s evolution.
In a candid conversation with Bankless, the leadership duo addressed critical topics ranging from the controversial ETH sales to strategic priorities and technical roadmaps. Their insights offer a clear signal: Ethereum is shifting toward faster execution, stronger communication, and a more product-centric approach—without compromising its core values of decentralization and openness.
A Leadership Transition Rooted in Protocol Expertise
Shay Wong: From Consensus Research to Executive Leadership
Shay Wong brings deep technical roots to her role. She joined the Ethereum Foundation in 2017 as a core protocol researcher, focusing on early proof-of-concept work for sharding. Over the years, she played a key role in Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake—the Merge—by helping define consensus layer specifications and bridging research with client development.
“I’ve always believed that protocol design must serve real users,” said Shay. “Now as co-executive director, I aim to lead with clarity, purpose, and detachment—building not just for today, but for the world we want to live in.”
Her journey reflects a broader shift: from theoretical research to real-world impact.
Tamas Stanczak: Builder Turned Institutional Catalyst
Tamas brings a builder’s mindset shaped by founding Nethermind, a leading Ethereum client implementation. His experience spans infrastructure development, MEV solutions through Flashbots, and ecosystem growth—having mentored over 600 developers through internship programs.
“I didn’t come to set the vision,” Tamas clarified. “I came to execute it. We’re not here to control Ethereum—we’re here to empower its builders.”
With a background in traditional finance and years spent navigating decentralized ecosystems, Tamas is uniquely positioned to streamline internal operations and strengthen external engagement.
Addressing Community Concerns Head-On
For years, the Ethereum community has voiced frustration over perceived sluggishness in execution, lack of transparency, and—most controversially—the Foundation’s ongoing sale of ETH.
👉 Discover how Ethereum plans to scale securely while staying true to its decentralized roots.
On ETH Sales: Operational Necessity, Not Profit Motive
One of the most persistent criticisms is the Foundation's sale of Ether. Shay addressed this directly:
“We’re expected to hold ETH, but we must sell to fund operations and grants. This isn’t speculation—it’s sustainability.”
These sales support critical activities: funding research, supporting client teams, and empowering ecosystem innovators. The Foundation does not speculate; it allocates capital responsibly to ensure long-term viability.
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Reality
Critics often describe the Foundation as operating in an “ivory tower.” Tamas acknowledged this perception:
“People are right—we’ve been too slow, too opaque. But change is already underway.”
He revealed that in his first two months, he held nearly 200 conversations with developers, researchers, and ecosystem participants—all aimed at identifying bottlenecks and accelerating progress.
The Three Pillars of Ethereum’s Future Strategy
The new leadership has crystallized its focus into three core strategic goals:
- Scaling Layer 1 (L1)
- Expanding Blob Capacity
- Improving User Experience (UX)
These are not isolated initiatives—they’re interconnected pillars designed to make Ethereum more accessible, efficient, and globally relevant.
1. Scaling L1: A 100x Vision Within Four Years
While much of the ecosystem focuses on Layer 2 rollups, the Foundation believes L1 scalability is foundational.
Tamas shared an ambitious target:
“Our goal is 10x L1 throughput by next year, with a long-term vision of 100x growth within four years—driven largely by zero-knowledge (ZK) technology.”
This roadmap involves:
- Optimizing all execution and consensus clients
- Implementing EIPs that reduce latency and increase bandwidth
- Preparing for ZK-EVM integration at the protocol level
Each research team is now being asked: How does your work contribute to the 100x goal?
2. Expanding Blob Capacity: Fueling the Rollup Economy
Blob-carrying transactions, introduced in Proto-Danksharding (EIP-4844), are central to reducing rollup costs. The plan is to increase blob count per block progressively.
This expansion directly lowers transaction fees for L2 users—making DeFi, gaming, and social apps more accessible worldwide.
👉 See how next-gen blockchain scaling could unlock mass adoption.
3. Improving UX: Making Ethereum Feel Like Web2
“The biggest barrier isn’t tech—it’s experience,” said Tamas.
Efforts include:
- Account abstraction via EIP-3074 (SFS 102) in Pectra
- Gas abstraction and session keys
- Smoother onboarding for non-crypto natives
The goal? Make interacting with Ethereum as intuitive as signing into an app—with none of the friction.
Technical Roadmap: From Pectra to Amsterdam
The Foundation has committed to a predictable 6-month hard fork cycle, bringing greater clarity and momentum to development.
| Upgrade | Timeline | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pectra | May 2025 | Account abstraction, Max Effective Balance adjustment |
| Fusaka | Q3–Q4 2025 | Enhanced blob support, UX improvements |
| Amsterdam | Q4 2026 | Major L1 scaling upgrades |
Post-Pectra, development on Fusaka will begin immediately via testnets. A major gathering of core developers is planned to align efforts and prevent delays.
Meanwhile, Jane Smith’s Ecosystem Development team is reworking grant processes to better support innovation in tokenization and real-world assets (RWA).
What the Ethereum Foundation Doesn’t Do
To manage expectations, Shay clarified EF’s boundaries:
- ❌ Does not own or control the protocol
- ❌ Does not build applications or infrastructure
- ❌ Does not act as gatekeeper or coordinator for business partnerships
Instead, EF acts as:
- ✅ A catalyst—funding and connecting innovators
- ✅ A resource hub—providing technical expertise
- ✅ A network weaver—building social infrastructure
“We’re not here to run Ethereum,” said Tamas. “We’re here to help others build on it.”
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Why does the Ethereum Foundation sell ETH?
A: Sales fund operations, research grants, and ecosystem support. It’s a financial necessity for a non-profit sustaining a global public good.
Q: Is Ethereum abandoning decentralization to scale faster?
A: No. All scaling efforts prioritize permissionless participation and node operability. The 100x goal includes maintaining decentralization through ZK optimizations and client diversity.
Q: How will account abstraction improve UX?
A: It enables smart contract wallets with features like social recovery, gasless transactions, and multi-device access—making crypto feel seamless.
Q: Will hard forks every six months compromise security?
A: Security remains paramount. Faster cycles mean smaller, more focused upgrades—reducing complexity and risk compared to infrequent mega-upgrades.
Q: Can EF really deliver on its promises after past delays?
A: Yes—by empowering teams, streamlining processes, and embedding product thinking into protocol design from day one.
Q: Who decides what gets upgraded?
A: Upgrades emerge from open collaboration among researchers, client teams, and application builders—not top-down mandates.
A New Era of Execution and Clarity
The message from Ethereum’s new leadership is clear: the era of slow iteration and opaque decision-making is ending.
With a restructured internal process, a product-driven mindset, and a transparent roadmap stretching to 2026 and beyond, the Foundation is positioning Ethereum not just as a blockchain—but as the foundational layer for global digital economies.
As Shay put it:
“We’re not building for fame or profit. We’re building for freedom—to create a world where anyone can participate without permission.”
👉 Explore how you can be part of Ethereum’s next chapter today.
The garden has been planted. Now it’s time to tend it—with purpose, precision, and perseverance.
Core Keywords: Ethereum Foundation, Ethereum upgrade roadmap, L1 scaling, account abstraction, blob scaling, user experience in crypto, Ethereum 100x scaling