Ethereum Foundation faces eight senior departures

Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation effective immediately, the organization confirmed. Wang’s exit is the eighth senior departure at the foundation in the past five months. Board member Bastian Aue will oversee operations during the leadership transition.

In a personal note, Wang wrote: “I’ve come to feel that this is the right moment for me to step back. Ethereum has always been bigger than any one role, any one organization, or any one moment.” The foundation confirmed it will search for a permanent co-executive director.

Earlier this year co-executive director Tomasz Stanczak left the foundation. In 2026 roughly 19 employees have departed in a mix of resignations and layoffs; five senior researchers left in May.

Trent Van Epps, who coordinated funding for core developers, left in April and warned that core development teams could run short of funds within three to nine months. He pointed to recent spending cuts and the winding down of the Client Incentive Program, and estimated annual costs to sustain core development at about $30 million.

The Ethereum Foundation is a nonprofit that funds research, supports client teams and coordinates developer grants while maintaining network neutrality. The foundation provides funding and administrative coordination for the engineers who maintain and upgrade the network.

Foundation officials have indicated plans to slim operations and narrow the organization’s focus. Board members are seeking replacements for departing leaders and exploring options to stabilise funding for core developer teams.

The foundation has not provided a timetable for the leadership search or specific funding measures. The leadership changes and the funding warning are now key items as the organization manages ongoing development work.