Ethereum Foundation Restructures Core Team, Announces Layoffs
Ethereum Foundation has announced a significant restructuring of its core Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team, now simply called "Protocol." This reorganization includes staff layoffs and a sharpened focus on key strategic goals for the Ethereum blockchain's future development and scalability.
Ethereum Foundation Undergoes Major Restructuring and Layoffs
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has initiated a substantial overhaul of its internal development group, leading to the rebranding of its core research team and the departure of some staff members. The former Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team has been streamlined and renamed "Protocol," signaling a more focused approach to Ethereum's evolution.
Key Takeaways
- The Ethereum Foundation has rebranded its Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team to simply "Protocol."
- The restructuring involved layoffs of some staff members from the PR&D team.
- The "Protocol" team will concentrate on three primary strategic goals:
- Scaling Ethereum's base layer (L1).
- Expanding blobspace for rollups.
- Improving user experience (UX).
- Longtime core developers like Tim Beiko, Alex Stokes, and Barnabé Monnot have been assigned to lead these focus areas.
- The EF views this restructuring as crucial for Ethereum's large-scale adoption, particularly with advancements in zero-knowledge rollups (zkEVMs) and layer-2 technologies.
Strategic Reorientation for Ethereum's Future
The EF's decision to restructure comes amidst ongoing discussions within the Ethereum community regarding the blockchain's scalability and user experience. The Foundation emphasized that this move is a "pivotal moment" for Ethereum, aiming to deploy its technology and values on a "planetary scale." The new, leaner "Protocol" organization is expected to be more united and focused, driving key initiatives forward.
Recent Leadership and Structural Changes
This latest restructuring is part of a series of significant changes within the Ethereum Foundation over recent months. In January, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced shifts in the EF's leadership model, prioritizing technical expertise and enhanced communication with developers. This was followed by a broader structural adjustment in April, which formalized a division between the board and executive functions. Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak were appointed as new co-executive directors. Under this new model, the board, including Buterin, sets the long-term vision, while the executive team manages operations. Critics have previously raised concerns about the Foundation's management and strategic direction, warning that failure to address core design issues could jeopardize Ethereum's leading position in the industry.