The Ethereum Foundation is undergoing a major restructuring: reducing its workforce by 20%.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has completed a multi-month reorganization aimed at optimizing internal processes and treasury management. Under the new structure, the foundation has transitioned to a cluster model comprising five key areas: Protocol Layer, Access Layer, User Layer, Community Layer, and Institutional Layer. Additionally, operational and management support blocks have been allocated.
The most notable consequence of these changes is a 20% reduction in staff, with 54 employees leaving the foundation. They are provided with severance pay: at least one month's salary for each year of service at the organization or the local statutory minimum, along with assistance in finding a new position within the ecosystem and a small grant for related expenses.
From my perspective, this step reflects the maturity of Ethereum as an ecosystem. The foundation is transitioning from a "startup incubator" model to a more disciplined and decentralized structure, where each cluster is responsible for a specific segment of development. While the staff reduction is painful, it will likely improve decision-making efficiency and accelerate the implementation of key protocol improvements. In the long term, this could strengthen community trust in the EF's management discipline.