Ethereum is one of the most popular blockchain networks in the world. It helps people build apps that are secure and work without needing a middleman. But behind Ethereum’s growth is an important organization called the Ethereum Foundation.
This group helps support Ethereum’s progress and development.
What Is the Ethereum Foundation?
The Ethereum Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Switzerland. It started in 2014 with help from Ethereum’s founders, including Vitalik Buterin.
The Foundation does not control Ethereum. Instead, it supports developers and researchers who build tools and improvements for the Ethereum network.
One of its main programs is the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP). This program gives money and resources to important Ethereum projects. These projects focus on things like improving speed, safety, and making it easier for people to use Ethereum.
According to the official ESP page, it gives out grants each quarter to support research, education, tools, and infrastructure development.
How the Foundation Helps Developers
Every week, Ethereum’s top developers meet to talk about updates. These meetings are called All Core Dev Calls (ACDCs). They discuss something called Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). These are ideas to improve Ethereum. Sometimes, many of these ideas are bundled together in what is known as a hard fork, which is a major upgrade to the network.
The Foundation also runs events to bring developers together. One major event is Devcon, Ethereum’s yearly developer conference.
This event takes place in different countries and gives people a chance to learn, share ideas, and work together.
The Foundation also manages an official website, ethereum.org, to help users learn more about how Ethereum works.
Recent Changes in Leadership
For many years, the Ethereum Foundation was led by Aya Miyaguchi.
Who became Executive Director in 2018. She worked on making Ethereum more decentralized and supported big upgrades like the shift from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake.
In early 2025, big changes started happening at the Foundation. Vitalik Buterin announced that the leadership team would change to include more technical experts. The goal was to improve communication between the Foundation and the developers.
However, not everyone in the community agreed with the changes. Some people felt Ethereum was falling behind other blockchains. Others wanted more say in how decisions were made. These disagreements caused tension and even led to one lead developer, Eric Conner, leaving the project.
There was also talk about a hidden group of people who had influence at the Foundation, even if they were not official leaders. This concern was raised in a book called The Cryptopians by journalist Laura Shin.
What This Means for Ethereum
The Foundation’s decisions can affect the future of Ethereum. For example, changes in leadership and strategy can impact how fast Ethereum grows and how well it competes with other blockchain platforms like Solana.
Many people in the Ethereum community trust Danny Ryan, a developer who helped with Ethereum’s move to Proof of Stake.
In March 2025, he joined Etherealize, a company that works on promoting Ethereum to large institutions.
This move made some ETH holders hopeful that Ethereum could gain more support from big businesses.
Still, challenges remain.
In early 2025, Ethereum’s usage dropped by over 30% in just one week. Prices also fell during that time. Critics say Ethereum needs to improve faster and keep up with the competition.
Final Thoughts
The Ethereum Foundation plays a big role in supporting the Ethereum network. It funds projects, organizes developer events, and helps guide technical decisions. But as the network grows, the Foundation must also change and adapt. Leadership changes and community feedback will shape Ethereum’s future.
Clear goals, better communication, and strong support for developers could help Ethereum keep growing in 2025 and beyond.
