Ethereum Foundation Restructures Development Team for Scaling and User Experience

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has recently undergone a significant restructuring of its internal development group, rebranding its core research team and laying off some staff in the process. The former Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team is now simply known as “Protocol,” with a focus on three strategic goals: scaling Ethereum’s base layer (L1), expanding blobspace for rollups, and improving user experience (UX).

The Foundation described this transition as a pivotal moment for Ethereum, emphasizing the importance of deploying both technology and values on a global scale. The revamp has also impacted the Foundation’s personnel, with longtime core developers such as Tim Beiko, Alex Stokes, and Barnabé Monnot being assigned to specific focus areas. Some members of the PR&D team have departed as part of this restructuring, although the exact number of individuals affected was not specified.

The Ethereum Foundation has undergone several leadership and structural changes in recent months. In January, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced changes to the Foundation’s leadership model, aiming to shift toward technical expertise and improved communication with developers. This announcement sparked internal criticism and debate about the Foundation’s strategic direction and transparency. In April, the Foundation formalized a division between its board and executive functions, appointing Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak as co-executive directors. Under the new model, the board, which includes Buterin, is responsible for setting the long-term vision, while the executive team handles day-to-day operations.

The Foundation’s recent restructuring is seen as a proactive response to the evolving demands of the Ethereum ecosystem. By focusing on protocol design issues and enhancing user experience, the Foundation aims to position Ethereum for broader adoption and technological advancement. The rebranding of the core research team and the assignment of key developers to specific focus areas reflect a strategic effort to streamline operations and drive innovation within the Ethereum community.