The Ethereum Foundation is undergoing a major restructuring: a 20% reduction in staff and a transition to a cluster model.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has completed a multi-month reorganization aimed at optimizing treasury management and improving operational efficiency. As part of the implementation of the new Mandate and Treasury Management Policy, the foundation has transitioned from a traditional hierarchical structure to a flexible system of five working clusters.
New Management Architecture
The key element of the reform was the creation of five specialized clusters: Protocol Layer, Access Layer, User Layer, Community Layer, and Institutional Layer. Additionally, operational and management support blocks have been allocated, which should ensure clearer distribution of responsibilities and faster decision-making.
Personnel Changes and Exit Terms
As a result of the reorganization, the foundation parted ways with 54 employees, representing approximately 20% of the total team. For the laid-off specialists, the EF developed a severance package: compensation amounts to at least one month's salary for each year of service or the local statutory minimum—whichever is greater. Additionally, the foundation provides assistance in finding a new role within the Ethereum ecosystem and a small grant for related expenses.
Analytical Commentary: This decision is not merely a cost-cutting measure but a strategic move. The Ethereum Foundation is clearly shifting from a model of "universal presence" to more targeted funding. The creation of clusters will allow the foundation to respond more quickly to market challenges and allocate resources more efficiently among critically important areas—from protocol scaling to institutional integration. However, the loss of 20% of staff may temporarily slow development pace, especially in adjacent fields. In the long term, such restructuring is a sign of the ecosystem's maturation, which is ceasing to rely solely on centralized support and beginning to encourage participant autonomy.