Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin revealed significant changes to the leadership structure of the Ethereum Foundation (EF), the nonprofit organization based in Switzerland that supports Ethereum’s development and community.
While emphasizing that the EF’s core mission will remain intact, Buterin outlined a series of goals aimed at strengthening the organization.
In a post on X, Buterin stated the reforms will focus on enhancing technical expertise among EF leaders, fostering better communication with developers and users, and introducing new talent to improve operational efficiency.
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Buterin To Push For Decentralized Tech At Ethereum Foundation
He also highlighted plans to expand the EF’s adoption of decentralized and privacy-focused technologies. However, Buterin dismissed calls for the EF to take an aggressive lobbying stance on behalf of Ethereum.
“If the EF were to start aggressively lobbying regulators, it could risk compromising Ethereum’s position as a global neutral platform,” Buterin wrote. He encouraged those with differing visions to establish their own organizations rather than seeking such changes within the EF.
The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of the EF’s leadership, with critics pointing to its perceived shortcomings. This debate intensified recently when President-elect Donald Trump chose to launch his official memecoin on Solana, sparking renewed criticism on social media about Ethereum’s leadership and strategy.
Joseph Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and CEO of Consensys, also weighed in, suggesting new leadership for the EF.
In an X post, Lubin praised current EF executive director Aya Miyaguchi for setting the foundation on a “healthy trajectory” but argued for a fresh approach in light of evolving industry dynamics.
I believe @AyaMiyagotchi deserves an enormous amount of respect and gratitude for what she has done over the years in stabilizing the EF initially and setting it on a healthy trajectory during first a tough period and then through periods of growth. We are now in a very… https://t.co/O4DOwArbng
— Joseph Lubin (@ethereumJoseph) January 18, 2025
Lubin proposed a co-leadership model, nominating Danny Ryan, who played a key role in Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake, and Jerome de Tychey, president of Ethereum France.
He described the pair as capable of injecting energy, creativity, and innovative marketing into the EF.
De Tychey also shared his recommendations, advocating for better communication and bold messaging to strengthen Ethereum’s ecosystem.
“Ethereum’s strength lies in its ability to adapt and thrive through collaboration. Together, we will shape the next chapter of Ethereum,” he wrote.
The proposed shakeup reflects a pivotal moment for the Ethereum Foundation as it navigates a rapidly evolving blockchain landscape.
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Buterin Donates $170K To Support Tornado Cash Developers
Last month, Buterin made a significant donation to aid the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, contributing 50 Ether (ETH), worth approximately $170,000 at the time.
According to the Juicebox project “Free Pertsev and Storm,” the funds are part of an initiative to support the developers as they face serious legal battles.
Buterin’s contribution accounts for 25% of the $650,000 currently available to the Tornado Cash developers through JusticeDAO, a community-driven effort to back their legal defense.
Previously, in October, he donated 100 ETH, valued at $240,000 at the time, underscoring his commitment to defending the developers and addressing concerns about government intervention in the crypto industry.
Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing service, has been at the center of legal controversies since 2022 when Dutch authorities arrested Pertsev.
He was later charged with money laundering and, in May 2024, found guilty and sentenced to over five years in prison. Pertsev is currently appealing the verdict.
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Less than 24 hours before assuming office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump announced the launch of his meme coin, TRUMP. This set the tone for what could be a transformative year for crypto and altcoins like Solana. The Trump token is already valued in the billions.
The incoming President also reportedly purchased $20M of Ethereum (ETH) – sparking a much-needed rally in Ether price.
Amid this announcement, speculation is mounting over what analysts describe as the creation of a national strategic reserve for crypto assets founded in the United States.
Interestingly, unlike previous proposals, the strategic reserve could exclude Bitcoin, with emerging rumors suggesting it would be heavily weighted in favor of USDC, Solana, and XRP.
If this turns out to be true, projects like Solaxy—a platform aiming to become the first layer-2 solution for Solana—will thrive.
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