The Ethereum Foundation Restructuring Sparks Debate As The Concept Of A ‘Second Foundation’ Emerges.
TLDR
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin announces major structural plans for Ethereum Foundation (EFF), community debate Lido founder Konstantin Lomashuk shares profile of “second foundation” X but clarifies no entity yet EF faces criticism over ETH sale decisions – central roadmap for community that members support Lomasuk They noted that a new Ethereum-focused company, Lido, is currently led by a company with a 28 percent stake in ETH, making it Ethereum's largest validator.
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently outlined plans for significant changes at the Ethereum Foundation (EF). In a January 21 post, Buterin emphasized that Ethereum's future is decentralized and that EF represents only one part of the broader ecosystem.
The restructuring announcement comes amid criticism of the foundation's recent decision to sell ETH to cover operational costs. Community members have argued that alternative approaches, such as including or reducing transactions, may be more effective strategies to control costs.
Buterin has fielded calls for a change in leadership, including calls for the resignation of CEO Aya Miyaguchi. He denied these requests, acknowledging that some personnel adjustments would be necessary while maintaining his role in EF leadership decisions.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Lido founder Konstantin Lomashuk shared an X profile called “Second Foundation”. This development immediately raised speculations about the creation of an alternative organization to support the development of Ethereum.
However, Lomashuk quickly explained that no body has been established yet. “No real second base has yet been created,” he said on X. “Ethereum is the ultimate world computer, and it can help every Ethereum grow, develop, and succeed.”
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— Konstantin Lomashuk cyber/acc (@Lomashuk) January 22, 2025
Although there is no formal organization, several prominent community members have supported Lomashuk's leadership of the new Ethereum-based entity. Metalex Labs founder Gabriel Shapiro praised Lomashuk as “one of the most honest founders/investors in the space.”
Jose Maria Macedo, founder of Delphi Labs, supported Lomaschuk's potential, saying, “If Vitalik is the prophet, then Constantine is the prince.” A strategic thinker/visionary who understands cryptos deeply and executes consistently.
The discussion on the second base highlights the concerns regarding centralization in the Ethereum ecosystem. Lido, Lomashuk's liquid staking protocol, currently controls approximately 28% of Ethereum's share of ETH, making it the network's largest validator.
Matthew Siegel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, supported the idea of leadership diversity, stating that there is no reason for EF to be the only entity to lead the future of Ethereum.
The foundation has faced increasing pressure over the past year to articulate a clear vision for the future of Ethereum, especially from competing networks like Solana. Critics have specifically targeted EF's “bundle-centric” roadmap, which prioritizes Layer-2 networks for faster and cheaper transactions.
“A better, faster, stronger EF path with a narrower width,” Avara Labs founder Stani Kulekov asked.
Buterin spoke of social media pressure campaigns by various community groups expressing concern about the impact on Ethereum's culture and ability to retain talent.
In December, Lomashuk previously discussed the concept of the “Second Foundation” on X, which aims to create competition between different groups and offer choices to society.
Martin Kopelman, a famous Ethereum developer near Lomaschuk, confirmed that the idea of the “second foundation” is real.
