Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation, effective Thursday. Wang made the decision after taking a sabbatical this year, having served as co-executive director since March 2025 following years as a core contributor to Ethereum's research and protocol development. Her departure adds to a broader period of leadership turnover at the nonprofit organization, following the February exit of former co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak and several other senior researchers and leaders in recent months. Wang stated that serving as co-executive director allowed her to see how the Ethereum community collaborates. The timing places renewed attention on the Ethereum Foundation's internal direction and leadership structure as it navigates protocol development and market competition.
Wang Served as Core Researcher Since Mid-2017
Wang joined the Ethereum Foundation Research team in mid-2017 as a core Layer 1 researcher. She worked on sharding proofs-of-concept, consensus mechanisms, and the Beacon Chain design that supported Ethereum's shift to proof-of-stake. The Ethereum Foundation promoted Wang and Stańczak during last year's organizational shakeup. Wang later became the primary executive director while working with interim co-executive director Bastian Aue before going on sabbatical.
"After my sabbatical, I have decided to step down as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation, effective today," Wang said Thursday. "Serving as EF co-executive director let me see the bigger picture of how the Ethereum community collaborates. I'm proud of what we've accomplished, not only at the EF, but across the builders, researchers, educators, node operators, validators, users, and many other contributors who have helped build, maintain, secure, and use the infrastructure and applications on top of it."
Vitalik Buterin praised Wang's contribution. "[Wang] has been a steadfast contributor to the Ethereum ecosystem for a decade," Buterin said on X. "Last year she, along with [Stanczak], voluntarily took on the burden of what is perhaps the most challenging position in the Ethereum Foundation, at one of the most challenging times for Ethereum – and realistically, a challenging time for all of humanity."
Multiple Senior Leaders Departed in Recent Months
The foundation has seen several high-profile exits beyond Wang and Stańczak. Two of the three heads of the Protocol cluster, Barnabé Monnot and Tim Beiko, have left. The remaining Protocol co-lead, Alex Stokes, announced a sabbatical. Josh Stark resigned in March after seven years with the organization.
Foundation Announced CROPs Focus Earlier This Year
Earlier this year, the foundation said it would focus on censorship resistance, open source, privacy, and security, known as CROPs. The foundation reportedly asked staff to sign a loyalty pledge related to the mandate and CROPs. The controversy highlighted questions about whether the Ethereum Foundation should operate mainly as a guardian of protocol values or take a more active role in growth, business adoption, and institutional outreach.
Lubin Outlined Three-Group Restructuring Plan
Joe Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and Consensys CEO, said there is a plan to further divide the Ethereum Foundation into more specific tracks. He said the plan includes three spinout groups focused on core protocol work, usability and scalability, and institutional outreach. "The EF will focus on the CROPs components," Lubin said.
FAQ
When did Hsiao-Wei Wang resign from the Ethereum Foundation?
Hsiao-Wei Wang announced her resignation as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation on Thursday, with the resignation effective that same day. She made the decision after taking a sabbatical this year, having served as co-executive director since March 2025.
What other senior leaders left the Ethereum Foundation recently?
Tomasz Stańczak stepped down as co-executive director in February. Two of the three heads of the Protocol cluster, Barnabé Monnot and Tim Beiko, have left, while the remaining Protocol co-lead, Alex Stokes, announced a sabbatical. Josh Stark resigned in March after seven years with the organization.
What is the Ethereum Foundation's CROPs mandate?
Earlier this year, the Ethereum Foundation said it would focus on censorship resistance, open source, privacy, and security, known as CROPs. Joe Lubin stated that the foundation will focus on the CROPs components as part of a restructuring plan that includes three spinout groups focused on core protocol work, usability and scalability, and institutional outreach.
