The Ethereum Foundation is undergoing a major restructuring: a 20% staff reduction and a shift to a cluster model.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has completed a multi-month reorganization aimed at optimizing treasury management and implementing a new Mandate. As part of these changes, 54 employees left the foundation, representing approximately 20% of the total staff. This is one of the most significant personnel shifts in the organization's history.
The new EF structure is now based on five working clusters: Protocol Layer, Access Layer, User Layer, Community Layer, and Institutional Layer. Additionally, operational and management support blocks have been allocated. This architecture is designed to improve resource allocation efficiency and accelerate decision-making in key areas of Ethereum ecosystem development.
For laid-off employees, the foundation has provided severance pay: at least one month's salary for each year of service at the organization or the local statutory minimum, whichever is greater. Additionally, the EF is assisting in finding new roles within the ecosystem and providing a small grant for related expenses.
Cryptalist Analytical Commentary: The EF restructuring is not merely a cost-cutting measure but a strategic step toward a more flexible and decentralized management model. The departure of 20% of the staff may temporarily create strain in some workflows, but in the long term, the cluster approach will allow the foundation to adapt more quickly to changing market conditions and technological challenges. Special attention should be paid to the Institutional Layer cluster — this is a clear signal of Ethereum's intention to strengthen its position in the field of institutional finance.