Ethereum Foundation's Leadership Shakeup: Aya Miyaguchi Transitions to President

In a significant leadership change, Aya Miyaguchi will transition from her role as Executive Director to President of the Ethereum Foundation. This move comes amid a broader restructuring within the organization, aimed at enhancing its institutional partnerships and addressing community concerns regarding its direction.

Key Takeaways

• Aya Miyaguchi will become the President of the Ethereum Foundation, moving from her previous role as Executive Director.

• The transition is part of a larger leadership restructuring within the Foundation, responding to community feedback and criticism.

• Miyaguchi emphasizes the importance of Ethereum's core values, including decentralization and community engagement.

Leadership Transition

Aya Miyaguchi announced her new role in a blog post, expressing her commitment to fostering Ethereum's open culture and strengthening global connections. She stated, "Ethereum belongs to everyone precisely because it belongs to no one. Our culture of permissionlessness doesn’t just tolerate disagreement — it grows stronger through it."

Miyaguchi has been with the Ethereum Foundation since 2018, overseeing key initiatives such as the transition from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake, known as the Merge. This landmark event significantly reduced Ethereum's carbon footprint and marked a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Community Response

The announcement of Miyaguchi's new position comes at a time when the Ethereum community has been vocal about its dissatisfaction with the Foundation's leadership. Some members have criticized perceived inefficiencies and called for a change in direction, suggesting that the Foundation has not adequately supported developers and builders within the ecosystem.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly defended Miyaguchi, condemning what he described as "toxic behavior" within the community. He emphasized the importance of creating an environment where others can thrive and contribute effectively.

New Initiatives

In conjunction with the leadership change, the Ethereum Foundation has introduced the "Silviculture Society," an external advisory group aimed at upholding the core values of the Ethereum ecosystem. This group will provide informal counsel to the Foundation, ensuring that it remains committed to principles such as open-source development, privacy, security, and censorship resistance.

Miyaguchi highlighted that the Foundation's role is not to control all aspects of Ethereum but to promote its values and ensure its resilience as a decentralized network. She stated, "We must avoid evolving like a traditional corporation, because our goal isn't for EF to 'win'—it is for Ethereum to win over the long term while staying true to its core values."

Looking Ahead

As Miyaguchi steps into her new role, the Ethereum Foundation is poised to navigate the challenges ahead while reinforcing its commitment to decentralization and community engagement. The leadership restructuring aims to address the concerns raised by the community and enhance the Foundation's effectiveness in supporting Ethereum's growth and development.

With the introduction of new initiatives and a renewed focus on its core values, the Ethereum Foundation is set to embark on a new chapter under Miyaguchi's leadership as President.

Sources

• Aya Miyaguchi to become president of Ethereum Foundation, Crypto Briefing.

• Ethereum Foundation’s Aya Miyaguchi Leaving Executive Director Role, CoinDesk.

• Ethereum Foundation Reveals Leadership Shakeup Following Criticism - Decrypt, Decrypt.

• Ethereum Foundation forms external council to uphold core blockchain values, Cointelegraph.