The Ethereum Foundation has announced restructuring and DFI integration plans
TLDR
Ethereum Foundation Launches Major Organizational Changes Amidst Community Pressure and Criticism Vitalik Buterin Confirms Ongoing Reforms Against Aggressive Lobbying and Ideological Changes Foundation Establishes $165 Million ETH Wallet for DFi Ecosystem Participation Buterin Milady NFT Receives Profile Photo to Crypto Culture Executive Director Aya Miyagi Buterin management decisions He faced public pressure in defense
The Ethereum Foundation It is undergoing major changes in early 2025, with founder Vitalik Buterin taking a more active role in guiding the company's direction while facing intense pressure from the cryptocurrency community.
In the past week, the foundation has begun to show signs of change, taking an unusual and engaging tone on its social media accounts. This change has sparked rumors of management changes, particularly the position of executive director Aya Miyaguchi.
No, this is not how the game works.
I will decide the new EF leadership team. One of the objectives of the ongoing reform is to give the EF a “correct board”, but until this happens, I am.
If you “keep up the pressure”, then you are creating an environment…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 21, 2025
Buterin spoke in front of these assumptions, confirming that the foundation is implementing “big changes” in the last year. These updates aim to strengthen relationships with app developers and everyday users in the Ethereum ecosystem.
The foundation made a clear statement of its financial commitment to the ecosystem on Monday by creating a wallet containing 50,000 ETH, valued at $165 million. This fund supports various decentralized finance projects built on Ethereum, receiving praise from industry leaders such as Aave founder Stany Kulekov.
In a surprising move that shocked many, Buterin changed his social media profile picture to Milady NFT after being picked up by the collection's creator, Charlotte Fang. This decision marked an unusual departure from the traditional approach of crypto culture.
However, Buterin has drawn a firm line on some of the changes the community wants. He pointedly rejected calls to adopt what he called a “Bronze Age mentality,” distinguishing Ethereum's approach from other crypto projects currently seeking political influence.
Pressure on Executive Miyaguchi has intensified, with some community members calling for her resignation. These critics have linked the leadership changes to possible price revisions for ETH, which has remained relatively stable during a period of growth for other cryptocurrencies.
We got a little inspiration here. $ETH may reach ATH in 2 weeks following @AyaMiyagotchi's resignation.
— CoinMamba (@coinmamba) January 19, 2025
Buterin defended the foundation's leadership in response to these questions, warning that hostile behavior creates a toxic environment that drives away talented developers. He emphasized that he alone has the authority to make decisions regarding the future leadership of the organization.
The foundation's new Diffie initiative represents a practical step toward greater ecological engagement. The allocation of 50,000 ETH shows the commitment to support decentralized financial projects and to participate directly with platforms built on Ethereum.
Communication changes at the foundation are becoming more transparent, with its official social media accounts taking on a more casual tone. A recent post, “Hello World Computer,” took this example of a more accessible messaging.
Technical expertise is a priority in the foundation's restructuring plans. Community members pointed to researcher Danny Ryan as a leadership candidate, citing his contributions to Ethereum's transition to a proof-of-stake agreement.
Some critics have raised concerns about centralization, particularly Buterin's strong position to exercise control over foundation decisions. Market analyst Abstract XBT suggested focusing more on practical support through hackathons and grants rather than leadership debates.
I will decide the new EF leadership team.
Is the future of global computing centralized???
V is not that tweet.
This meta is about pro builders, less philosophy blogs, more hacks, and giveaways to lower ETH builders.
Shil more good tech projects… pic.twitter.com/LChAwK1IfM
— abstractXBT (@abstractxbt) January 21, 2025
The foundation's financial practices have faced scrutiny, with questions being raised about its handling of ETH holdings and decisions regarding asset forfeitures and fundraising opportunities.
Buterin explained that while the changes are ongoing, they will be done on the foundation's terms rather than in response to social media pressure. He said he plans to establish a “proper board” for the foundation, maintaining his role as the final decision-maker on management matters.
The foundation's relationship with other organizations in the Ethereum ecosystem may also evolve, with Buterin suggesting that groups like Consensys may take on additional responsibilities in the future.
