Vitalik Buterin asserts control over Ethereum Foundation leadership

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH), has firmly reaffirmed his authority over the Ethereum Foundation amid rising community pressure for leadership changes.

In a post on January 21, 2025, Buterin rejected calls for a shakeup and emphasised that decisions regarding leadership remain solely his responsibility.

This response comes in light of discussions advocating for Danny Ryan, a prominent developer, to take a more significant role within the Foundation.

Buterin criticised the toxic behavior directed at Aya Miyaguchi, the current executive director, stating that harassment against her is “pure evil.”

He highlighted the negative impact of such actions on the Ethereum community, noting that they could deter top talent from engaging with the project.

“Some of Ethereum’s best devs have been messaging me recently, expressing their disgust with the social media environment that people like you are creating. YOU ARE MAKING MY JOB HARDER,” he stated.

The ongoing debate reflects broader concerns about leadership within the Foundation, particularly regarding its direction and management.

Supporters of Ryan argue that his contributions to Ethereum's transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake make him a fitting candidate for leadership.

However, Buterin has made it clear that he will not entertain these pressures.

“This is not how this game works. The person deciding the new EF leadership team is me,” he stated

Buterin's comments come after he announced significant changes to the Foundation's structure aimed at enhancing communication and support for decentralised application developers.

He expressed intentions to establish a “proper board” in the future but reaffirmed his control until then.

The tension surrounding leadership has also highlighted issues within the community, with some members expressing dissatisfaction with Miyaguchi's performance.

Buterin condemned these sentiments as harmful and counterproductive to Ethereum’s goals.

At the time of reporting, the Ethereum (ETH) price was $3,337.06.