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 process aimed at optimizing treasury management and implementing a new development strategy. As part of this phase, 54 employees left the foundation, representing approximately 20% of the total team.
The new organizational structure is based on five key working clusters: Protocol Layer, Access Layer, User Layer, Community Layer, and Institutional Layer. Additionally, operational and management support units have been allocated. In my assessment, this approach should improve coordination efficiency among the various development areas of the Ethereum ecosystem.
For laid-off employees, the EF has provided severance pay: at least one month's salary for each year worked at the foundation, or the local statutory minimum. Furthermore, the organization has offered assistance in finding new roles within the ecosystem and a small grant for related expenses. This reflects an effort to maintain good relations with former team members, who may continue to contribute to the network's development.
Analytical Perspective
A 20% staff reduction is a significant step, likely driven by the need to adapt to current market conditions and enhance the foundation's financial stability. However, I believe the transition to a cluster model could act as a catalyst for more flexible and targeted development of Ethereum, especially amid increasing competition from other blockchain platforms. In the long term, such restructuring could strengthen the network's position but will require a high degree of coordination and efficiency from the remaining team.