The Ethereum Foundation has announced significant changes within its research and development team, including layoffs and a rebranding of its Protocol Research and Development division, now referred to simply as “Protocol.” This restructuring aims to enhance the organization’s focus on scaling and user experience.
In a blog post published on Monday, the Foundation articulated that these adjustments are intended to foster “a new level of focus and collaboration” as Ethereum embarks on what it describes as “its best shot at deploying not only our technology, but our values, at planetary scale.”
To achieve this ambitious vision, the Foundation has realigned Protocol around three main priorities: “scale L1, scale blobs, improve UX.”
Each of these focus areas has been assigned a strategic initiative along with a dedicated leadership team, designed to enhance accountability and ensure more concentrated resource allocation.
Announcing Protocolhttps://t.co/LMANvhQ0X3
— Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn) June 2, 2025
‘Protocol’ Division to Operate With Streamlined Teams Following Staff Reductions
The Foundation explained, “The changes we’re announcing today are a departure from our previous ways of working, but we feel these set us on a more responsive and effective path.” They added, “Protocol is now a more united and leaner organization with more focused teams.”
As part of this transition, it was noted that “some members of PR&D won’t be continuing with the Ethereum Foundation.” The organization encouraged the broader community to consider offering positions to those affected, expressing a hope that these individuals will remain within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Ethereum Foundation Appoints Leaders Across Key Focus Areas
The newly appointed leadership team will consist of Tim Beiko and Ansgar Dietrichs, who will concentrate on Layer 1 scaling efforts. Meanwhile, Alex Stokes and Francesco D’Amato will spearhead initiatives related to Layer 2 scaling, and Barnabé Monnot alongside Josh Rudolf will focus on enhancing user experience. Additionally, Dankrad Feist will act as a strategic advisor across all three domains.
The Foundation emphasized the significance of execution, stating, “Each of these goals is now mapped to a strategic initiative for Protocol, a shared workspace to bring our complementary talents together.”
As the complexity of Ethereum’s technical roadmap increases, the demand for quicker iterations has also risen. In response, the Foundation highlighted the necessity for closer collaboration and communication, noting that “rapidly transitioning research into prototypes and to production means that we need tighter collaboration and feedback loops.”
In light of these changes, the Ethereum Foundation is actively seeking new contributors to join the Protocol team, particularly for open positions such as UX Lead and Performance Engineering Lead. The Foundation concluded the post with a rallying call: “Let’s do it together. Let’s ship Protocol.”
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