Ethereum Foundation Shakes Up Governance—Announces Ambitious 2025 Roadmap Under New Leadership

Decentralization gets a corporate makeover as Ethereum’s top brass unveils a controversial ’streamlined’ leadership model—just in time for the next bull run. Because nothing says ’trustless’ like boardroom power plays.

The Foundation’s 2025 targets include scaling solutions that might actually work this time (fingers crossed), plus a vague nod to ’sustainability’—Wall Street’s favorite buzzword before they dump their bags.

Devs cheer the roadmap; crypto skeptics yawn. Meanwhile, ETH whales are already front-running the announcement. Some things never change.

New Leadership Structure: Dual Co-Executive Directors

In the announcement, another major highlight was the introduction of a new leadership model featuring two Co-Executive Directors: Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz K. Stańczak. Initially revealed in March 2025, this new team structure is now fully operational with Wang and Stańczak leading the EF’s management. .

Hsiao-Wei Wang, a core researcher at the EF and a key contributor to the Ethereum beacon chain, also serves on the board and acts as a bridge between the board and management. Tomasz K. Stańczak, the founder and CEO of Nethermind, on the other hand brings his expertise in strategic execution and talent development to the role. 

Stańczak, who is transitioning out of his CEO position at Nethermind, has committed to a two-year term as co-executive director to help drive significant changes during a critical period for Ethereum.

The EF Board of Directors, responsible for setting the vision and ensuring compliance as a Swiss foundation, includes Vitalik Buterin, Aya Miyaguchi (now President), Hsiao-Wei Wang, and Patrick Storchenegger, the Swiss counsel. This structure is designed to align the Foundation’s operations with its long-term mission while maintaining accountability and strategic oversight.

Strategic Objectives for the Next 12 Months

The Ethereum Foundation also outlined its key objectives for the coming year, focusing on three primary areas: scaling Ethereum’s Layer 1 (L1) mainnet, scaling data availability through “blobs,” and improving user experience (UX). 

These goals reflect the EF’s commitment to addressing some of Ethereum’s most pressing challenges, such as high transaction costs and network congestion. These key issues have driven users out from the Ethereum to Layer 2 (L2) solutions like optimistic rollups and zero-knowledge rollups.

Scaling L1 and blobs – a new form of data attached to Ethereum blocks to support L2 rollups – aims to make the network more efficient and cost-effective for users. The focus on UX underscores the EF’s intent to make Ethereum more accessible to developers and end-users. 

As stated in the EF’s blog, the Foundation will support builders by clarifying standards, strengthening ecosystems and enhancing interoperability across the Ethereum network, ensuring that the ecosystem of chains “feels like one.”

A Community-Driven Approach to Decentralization

Throughout the announcement, the EF emphasized its role as a facilitator rather than a dominant force in Ethereum’s evolution. It said that the foundation exists to strengthen Ethereum’s ecosystem and uphold its core values. 

The EF acknowledged the ecosystem’s strength lies in its decentralization – technically, socially, and structurally – and committed to preserving this by supporting independent teams and fostering global collaboration.

The Foundation also addressed the broader context of Ethereum’s role in the world, particularly in providing internet-native financial access. 

Looking Ahead

The Ethereum Foundation’s updates signal a strategic pivot toward operational efficiency, ecosystem support, and long-term sustainability. By embracing a dual-leadership model, restating its vision, and setting clear objectives, the EF is positioning itself to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming years. 

As Ethereum continues to evolve as a cornerstone of decentralized finance, the Foundation’s efforts to balance innovation with its core values will be crucial in ensuring the network remains a resilient, neutral platform for global coordination. 

For now, the Ethereum community and the broader crypto world will be watching closely to see how these changes translate into tangible progress over the next 12 months – and whether Ethereum can reclaim its momentum in an increasingly competitive blockchain landscape.

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