Radical Transformation at the Ethereum Foundation: 9 Executives Depart, $11 Billion Inflows
Ethereum is undergoing a radical transformation at the foundation level as it enters its 11th year, evolving toward a decentralized future fueled by intense interest from institutional giants.
Launching on July 30, 2015, with the vision of becoming a “world computer,” Ethereum has today become the foundational layer for billions of dollars in assets. However, the network’s 11th year is being defined not just by technical achievements, but by a massive transformation within the Ethereum Foundation. Over the past year, the Foundation has weathered both management upheaval and taken strategic steps to reduce its own influence to foster a more decentralized structure for the network.
The departure of nine senior executives within the last seven months and a 20% reduction in the workforce have been the most concrete indicators of this change. The Foundation published a new set of operating principles called CROPS (Censorship Resistance, Open Source, Privacy, and Security), committing to measuring its success by its ability to reduce its own influence. During this process, independent entities such as EthLabs and Ethereum Institutional separated from the Foundation to focus on different areas of the ecosystem.
Institutional Interest and Technical Progress Go Hand in Hand
While this internal transformation continues, Ethereum’s standing in the corporate world has strengthened more than ever. Financial giants like BlackRock and JPMorgan are increasing their assets on the network, while U.S.-based spot Ethereum ETFs have seen total net inflows exceeding $11.23 billion. This situation proves that the network is no longer just a technological experiment but has become an integral part of global finance.
On the technical side, scalability goals continue unabated with solutions like the Fusaka upgrade and PeerDAS, which enhances data availability. As Ethereum enters its second decade, it is reaching institutional maturity on one hand, while rebuilding its own institutions on the other by remaining faithful to its original principles of decentralization. This contrast creates a critical balance for the network’s long-term sustainability.