Ethereum Foundation Overhauls R&D, Rebrands Core Team, and Implements Layoffs
Jun 6
2 min read
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has announced a significant internal overhaul, rebranding its core research team to "Protocol" and implementing staff layoffs. This restructuring aims to streamline development efforts, focusing on critical areas like scaling the base layer, expanding blobspace for rollups, and enhancing user experience, signaling a pivotal moment for Ethereum's future.
Ethereum Foundation Undergoes Major Restructuring
The Ethereum Foundation has initiated a substantial reorganization of its internal development group. The former Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team has been rebranded simply as "Protocol," with a renewed focus on three strategic objectives:
Scaling Ethereum's base layer (L1)
Expanding blobspace for rollups
Improving user experience (UX)
This strategic shift is intended to proactively address the complex demands of protocol development and prepare Ethereum for large-scale adoption, especially with advancements in zero-knowledge rollups (zkEVMs) and layer-2 technologies.
Personnel Changes and Leadership Realignments
As part of the restructuring, some members of the former PR&D team have been laid off. While the exact number of affected individuals was not disclosed, the EF stated that "Protocol is now a more united and leaner organization with more focused teams." Key core developers have been formally assigned to lead the new focus areas:
L1 Scaling: Tim Beiko and Ansgar Dietrichs
Blob Scaling: Alex Stokes and Francesco D'Amato
User Experience: Barnabé Monnot and Josh Rudolf
These changes follow a period of significant leadership and structural adjustments within the EF. Earlier this year, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced changes to the EF's leadership model, emphasizing technical expertise and improved communication. In April, the EF formalized a division between its board and executive functions, appointing Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak as co-executive directors.
Strategic Vision and Financial Management
The EF views the period of 2025-2026 as pivotal for the Ethereum ecosystem. The foundation plans to adopt a more deliberate approach to managing its substantial ETH reserves, aligning short-term operations with long-term strategic goals. This includes supporting the ecosystem during downturns or critical periods. The EF has also pledged increased transparency regarding its ETH sales, promising quarterly and annual financial reports. As of October 31, 2024, the EF held approximately $970 million in total assets, with $788.7 million in crypto holdings.
Key Takeaways
The Ethereum Foundation has rebranded its core R&D team to "Protocol" to streamline development.
The restructuring includes staff layoffs and a focus on L1 scaling, blobspace expansion, and UX improvement.
New leadership roles have been assigned to key developers for each strategic area.
The EF is reforming its treasury management, aiming for greater transparency and strategic deployment of its ETH reserves.
These changes are part of a broader effort to prepare Ethereum for mass adoption and address growing competition.
Sources
Ethereum Foundation restructures, rebrands Protocol team, Cointelegraph.
Ethereum Foundation Restructures R&D Division, Plans 'Rethink' on Design and Development, Decrypt.
Ethereum Foundation Reorganizes Leadership Around New Roadmap, The Defiant.
Ethereum Foundation Rebrands Core Team and Cuts Staff, Cointribune.
Ethereum Foundation expects 2025-26 to be ‘pivotal’ for the ecosystem as it reforms its treasury management |The Block, The Block.