Ethereum Foundation Restructures Leadership to Boost Scalability and Research

Ethereum Foundation’s new co-executive director Tomasz K. Stańczak has responded to Vitalik Buterin’s latest proposal, which advocates for replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine with RISC-V to enhance long-term scalability. Stańczak emphasized that Buterin’s proposals are intended to stimulate discussions and invite scrutiny regarding the network’s future goals and potential breakthroughs.

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Under the new leadership, the Foundation is shifting its focus from research and development to working on Layer 1 scaling, Layer 2 support, optimizing user experience, and interoperability. This includes improving the network under the new protocol upgrades, such as the upcoming Pectra upgrade, Fusaka and Glamsterdam. Stańczak noted that the community has appreciated the Foundation’s ambition in these areas, and turning that ambition into reality now depends on the focus of the core development teams and researchers.

As a result of this restructuring, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin will have a relatively smaller role in the network’s daily operational work. Instead, Buterin will be focusing his efforts on network-related research initiatives. Stańczak explained that the aim is to free more of Buterin’s time for research and exploration, rather than day-to-day coordination or crisis response. He highlighted that Buterin’s insights and directions have historically accelerated major long-term breakthroughs for the platform.

Stańczak praised Buterin for his recent proposal on RISC-V and zkVMs, stating that these proposals have advanced promising research avenues. He also noted that Buterin’s proposals on privacy have helped realign the community with the network’s core values. However, Stańczak reminded community members that Buterin’s proposals, while significant, are designed to spark conversations and should not be treated as final decisions. He emphasized that the community could refine or even reject these proposals outright.

On April 20, Buterin shared a proposal on the Ethereum Magicians forum advocating for switching the Ethereum Virtual Machine in favor of RISC-V. He believed this change could greatly improve the network’s efficiency, especially in terms of zero-knowledge-based scaling. The proposal was published just a few days prior to the network’s latest upgrade, which is set to go live on May 7.

The Ethereum Foundation has announced a significant restructuring of its leadership, appointing Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak as Co-Executive Directors. This move is part of a strategic shift that allows co-founder Vitalik Buterin to focus more on research and less on daily management tasks. The restructuring aims to accelerate Ethereum’s protocol development and enhance its scalability and user experience.

Buterin’s new role will prioritize research in areas such as RISC-V, zkVM, and privacy. These technologies are seen as crucial for advancing Ethereum’s infrastructure and ensuring its competitiveness in the blockchain space. The community has expressed cautious optimism about these changes, noting that Buterin’s insights have historically driven significant long-term breakthroughs for the platform.

Stańczak highlighted the importance of Buterin’s research contributions, stating that every time Buterin shares insights or conveys direction, he accelerates significant long-term breakthroughs. He noted that Buterin’s recent posts on RISC-V and zkVMs have advanced promising research directions, and his articles on privacy have helped refocus the community on the Ethereum Foundation’s core values.

The Ethereum Foundation’s focus on scalability improvements and user experience upgrades is evident in recent protocol developments such as Pectra, Fusaka, and Glamsterdam. These upgrades are part of a broader effort to enhance Ethereum’s first-layer scalability capabilities and introduce more user-friendly features.

The community’s reaction to these changes has been mixed, with some expressing enthusiasm for the renewed focus on research and core values. Others remain cautious, awaiting the tangible outcomes of these strategic shifts. However, there is a general consensus that Buterin’s increased involvement in research could lead to significant advancements for Ethereum.

The Ethereum Foundation’s leadership restructuring is a strategic move aimed at accelerating innovation and maintaining Ethereum’s position as a leading force in blockchain technology. By allowing Buterin to focus on research, the Foundation hopes to drive foundational technologies that will enhance Ethereum’s scalability and user experience, ensuring its continued relevance in the rapidly evolving landscape of decentralized finance.