The Ethereum Foundation is undergoing a major reorganization: reducing staff by 20% and transitioning to a cluster model.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) team has completed a multi-month restructuring process aimed at optimizing treasury management and implementing a new Mandate and Governance Policy. As a result, the foundation parted ways with 54 employees, representing approximately 20% of the total team.
The new EF organizational structure now includes five working clusters: Protocol Layer, Access Layer, User Layer, Community Layer, and Institutional Layer. Additionally, operations and management support units have been allocated. This clustering is designed to enhance the foundation's flexibility and efficiency in the rapidly changing landscape of the crypto industry.
For the laid-off employees, EF has provided severance packages: at least one month's salary for each year worked at the foundation, or the local statutory minimum, whichever is greater. Furthermore, the foundation assists in finding a new role within the Ethereum ecosystem and provides a small grant for related expenses.
From my perspective, this decision is a logical step in the evolution of Ethereum governance. The shift from a traditional hierarchy to a cluster model reflects the maturity of the ecosystem, where key functions (from protocol to institutional interaction) require a specialized approach. The 20% staff reduction may be painful, but it demonstrates EF's determination to adapt to new realities, where efficiency and transparency in treasury management are becoming critical for the network's long-term sustainability.