The Ethereum Foundation has announced a significant reorganization of its internal structure, including a notable reduction in staffing and a rebranding of its core research and development team.
According to the Foundation’s announcement on June 2, the restructuring effort is designed to enhance focus, promote closer collaboration, and expedite progress towards Ethereum’s ambitious objectives around scalability and enhanced usability. A key element of the reorganization is the rebranding of the existing Protocol Research & Development (PR&D) team, which will now simply be known as ‘Protocol’. The updated team will direct its energies toward three specific strategic goals: scaling Ethereum’s Layer 1, considerably improving user experiences, and expanding the platform’s blobspace capacity.
As part of the restructuring, the Foundation has confirmed that a number of PR&D team members will not continue with the organization. The Foundation’s statement cited internal challenges, underscoring the necessity to reassess their current approach towards protocol design, development, and stewardship. Acknowledging the complexity involved, the Foundation described the task as inherently difficult, requiring agile response to demands that are intricate and often difficult to clearly define.
This announcement follows recent statements from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin at ETHGlobal Prague, where he projected a tenfold scaling of Ethereum’s Layer 1 capabilities within the coming year. Buterin has also previously indicated ongoing significant adjustments to the Ethereum Foundation’s leadership model, signifying a broader, year-long leadership transition taking place within the organization.
The restructuring aligns with recent industry demands for Ethereum to address operational inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities. Earlier, Ethereum encountered challenges following the deployment of Ethereum Improvement Proposal EIP-7702, which was meant to enable standard Ethereum accounts to briefly act as smart contracts for improved wallet functionality. Critics argued that this feature inadvertently created new attack vectors, leading to a series of wallet-draining incidents and increased concerns over network security. Analysts and security specialists highlighted these vulnerabilities, urging immediate attention from the Ethereum Foundation to mitigate the risks posed by inadequately vetted feature upgrades.
Ultimately, the timing and scope of Ethereum’s internal restructuring effort strongly suggest that the Foundation is attempting to address rising concerns about operational effectiveness and restore confidence among developers and community stakeholders regarding the future direction of Ethereum’s protocol development.
