USDVitalik Buterin Faces Growing Pressure Over Leadership Decisions
Leadership Disputes and Ethereum Foundation Challenges
The Ethereum Foundation is navigating turbulent waters as its leadership structure faces scrutiny from critics calling for major changes. Central to the debate is Aya Miyaguchi, the Foundation’s Executive Director since 2018, who has been targeted with accusations of inefficiency and alleged mismanagement.
Suggestions to replace her with figures like Danny Ryan, who spearheaded Ethereum’s transition to Proof of Stake (PoS), or Jerome de Tychey, have gained traction among community members. Critics argue these changes could strengthen Ethereum’s operational strategies and even bolster Ether’s market performance.
Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, responded forcefully to these calls during a series of statements from January 18–21, 2025. Declaring that decisions regarding Ethereum Foundation leadership rest solely in his hands, Buterin reaffirmed his authority, stating, “The person deciding the new EF leadership team is me.”
He condemned what he described as a toxic campaign against Miyaguchi, emphasizing that harassment and intimidation harm not just individuals but the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Reports of death threats and derogatory remarks targeting Miyaguchi led Buterin to label such behavior as "pure evil," warning that it risks driving away top talent essential to Ethereum’s future.
Community dissatisfaction extends beyond leadership disputes, touching on broader issues within the Ethereum Foundation. Critics have pointed to delays in rolling out upgrades like Dencun, which is designed to enhance data handling, as well as what they see as insufficient support for decentralized finance (DeFi).
Allegations of poor communication between the Foundation and developers have only fueled tensions. Financial decisions by the EF, including periodic Ether sell-offs to cover operational costs, have sparked concerns over sell pressure impacting Ethereum’s market dynamics. As of January 2025, the Foundation’s treasury holds 269,000 ETH (approximately $894 million), a notable decline from 617,000 ETH in 2020.
In an effort to address these criticisms, Buterin outlined plans for structural reform within the Foundation. These include the establishment of a "proper board" to decentralize decision-making, enhanced transparency in financial management, and increased focus on recruiting technical expertise.
Despite these proposals, he has remained firm in his vision of preserving Ethereum’s neutrality, cautioning against centralized lobbying efforts or ideological shifts that could compromise the project’s decentralized ethos. Instead, Buterin advocates for alternative organizations to assume roles beyond the Foundation’s scope, reinforcing Ethereum’s position as a platform for innovation.
Amid these challenges, the Ethereum Foundation has committed significant resources to supporting the ecosystem. On January 20, it allocated 50,000 ETH (approximately $165 million) to bolster DeFi development, with funds managed through a multisig wallet for app builders.
While some have praised the initiative, calls for greater financial transparency and improved communication persist. Critics argue that staking portions of the Foundation’s holdings could help mitigate operational costs without relying on sell-offs that affect market sentiment.
The controversies and reforms come at a pivotal time for Ethereum, following technical milestones like the successful transition to Proof of Stake and ongoing work on the Dencun upgrade. Yet, frustrations over delays and internal divisions underscore a broader challenge: balancing the community’s demands for efficiency and progress with Ethereum’s commitment to decentralized governance.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
