Two senior researchers leave Ethereum Foundation

Julian Ma and Carl Beek resigned from the Ethereum Foundation on Monday, bringing the number of recent high-profile exits at the organization to at least eight.

Ma, who spent four years at the Foundation, posted on X that he is leaving to focus on product and growth. He described the Foundation as “an amazing place but not right for my next steps.” At the Foundation he worked on Ethereum’s censorship-resistant properties and on cross-layer bridge algorithms and strategy.

Beek, a seven-year researcher, wrote on X that he stepped down on May 29 and planned to spend time with his wife and their one-month-old child. His work at the Foundation included contributions to the early design of the Beacon Chain, the upgrade that introduced proof-of-stake to Ethereum.

The resignations follow several other departures this year. Earlier in May, Barnabé Monnot and Tim Beiko left roles leading the Foundation’s Protocol Cluster, and Alex Stokes said he would take a sabbatical. In April, researcher and project manager Josh Stark and contributor Trent Van Epps exited the organization. In February, co-executive director Tomasz Stanczak announced his resignation. According to public posts and statements by departing staff, five senior developers and researchers left in May alone.

Last year, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced leadership changes and a new direction for the Foundation aimed at bringing in new talent and focusing development on increasing throughput and speed across the protocol.

The Ethereum Foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The recent departures occur alongside organizational changes and ongoing adjustments to staffing and priorities following the network’s transition to proof-of-stake.