Ethereum Foundation Announces Rebranding and Restructuring
In a recent strategic overhaul, the Ethereum Foundation has announced a rebranding of its internal development unit, previously known as the Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team, which is now simply called “Protocol.” This reorganization comes alongside a reduction in staff, as outlined in an announcement made on June 2.
Key Objectives of the New Protocol Team
The newly formed Protocol team plans to concentrate on three key objectives:
- Enhancing the scalability of Ethereum’s base layer (Layer 1)
- Increasing blobspace for rollups
- Refining user experience (UX)
Challenges and Vision
The Ethereum Foundation emphasized the challenges of this transition, describing the initiative to “ship protocol” as a complex task requiring them to adapt to evolving demands that are often difficult to define and even harder to meet. The Foundation heralded this restructuring as a critical juncture for Ethereum, pointing to developments in zero-knowledge rollups (zkEVMs) and layer-2 solutions as a way to propel the blockchain towards widespread adoption.
“This moment may be Ethereum’s best shot at deploying not only our technology, but our values, at planetary scale.”
Impact on Workforce and Leadership Changes
This team reshaping has had repercussions for the organization’s workforce, with established developers like Tim Beiko, Alex Stokes, and Barnabé Monnot being assigned to specific focus areas under the new arrangement. While the Foundation confirmed that several members of the PR&D team would be leaving, they refrained from disclosing the exact number of employees impacted. Cointelegraph attempted to obtain further clarification but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The Ethereum Foundation’s restructuring is part of a broader trend of significant changes it has undergone in recent months. In January, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, announced a plan to redefine the EF’s leadership framework, emphasizing the need for technical proficiency and better communication with the developer community. This reform was met with some internal dissent, sparking discussions about the foundation’s strategic path and its level of transparency.
Further Adjustments in Governance
Further adjustments included the formal separation of the EF’s board and executive operations in April, introducing two new co-executive directors: Hsiao-Wei Wang, a veteran Ethereum researcher, and Tomasz Stańczak, head of the infrastructure company Nethermind. Under this revised governance structure, the board, including Buterin, is entrusted with articulating a long-term vision, while the newly appointed executive team oversees the foundation’s day-to-day activities.
Conclusion
As the Ethereum ecosystem evolves, these organizational shifts reflect an ongoing commitment to enhancing the network and addressing the demands of its growing community.
