Vitalik Buterin Signals Shift to 'Smaller Ship' at Ethereum Foundation Amid Departures
Vitalik Buterin announced that the Ethereum Foundation is adopting a leaner, more focused structure, narrowing its operational scope and emphasizing cypherpunk principles such as censorship resistance, openness, privacy, and security. This shift follows the departure of several senior members and ongoing internal changes. The Foundation aims to prioritize long-term sustainability over broad initiatives, positioning itself as just one part of Ethereum's larger ecosystem rather than an essential leader. The new focus aligns with the CROPS framework and avoids prioritizing the price of Ethereum’s native asset. Buterin noted the Foundation intends to reduce ETH sales and currently holds about 0.16% of Ethereum’s total supply, valued at $408 million. The organization’s original technical goals were achieved in 2022, and it was never meant to be a perpetual steward of the network. Buterin, with around 90% of his net worth in ETH, expects his influence within the Foundation to diminish over time and encourages the community to enhance security and maintain core Ethereum properties.
