tl;dr
- Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a non-profit founded in 2014 to support Ethereum's growth.
- It funds core protocol development, infrastructure, and community initiatives.
- The Silviculture Society, an advisory group to the Ethereum Foundation, was launched to preserve Ethereum's core values.
- Etherealize was formed to market Ethereum to traditional finance and accelerate adoption.
- These organizations have distinct roles: EF for development, Silviculture for values, Etherealize for marketing.
An Introduction to The Ethereum Foundation
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 to support the growth and development of Ethereum, the world’s second-largest blockchain. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, the EF was established by key figures such as Vitalik Buterin, Gavin Wood, and Joseph Lubin following Ethereum’s successful crowdsale, which raised over $18 million. Unlike a corporate entity, the EF does not control Ethereum but serves as a steward, funding core protocol development, infrastructure, and community initiatives.
The EF has played a crucial role in Ethereum’s evolution, driving major upgrades like the Merge, which transitioned the network to Proof-of-Stake in 2022. It supports Ethereum’s research, execution and consensus clients, and privacy tools. While the EF’s decisions significantly impact the ecosystem, Ethereum remains decentralized, with validators, developers, and users shaping its future.
Recent Criticisms of the Ethereum Foundation
The EF has faced increasing criticism over its governance, transparency, and competitive strategy. One major controversy involved EF President Aya Miyaguchi’s comments to Wired Japan about Ethereum’s non-competitive approach, which frustrated community members who believe Ethereum is losing ground to rivals like Solana. A mistranslation of her remarks further fueled distrust, with some accusing EF leadership of prioritizing institutional adoption over grassroots users.
Additionally, concerns have emerged over EF’s financial decisions, including large ETH sales and leadership salaries, drawing scrutiny. Critics also argue that Ethereum’s high gas fees and slow scaling progress, despite Layer 2 solutions, are weakening its position in the blockchain space.
Leadership Changes at the Ethereum Foundation
On March 1, 2025, Aya Miyaguchi transitioned from Executive Director to President of the EF. Her new role focuses on expanding Ethereum’s vision, fostering institutional relationships, and promoting ecosystem growth. Miyaguchi’s “Infinite Garden” philosophy continues to guide Ethereum’s development, emphasizing organic expansion over centralized control.
New Co-Executive Directors: Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak
Hsiao-Wei Wang, a key researcher behind Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake transition, and Tomasz Stańczak, founder of Nethermind, were appointed as co-Executive Directors. Their dual leadership model balances technical research with execution, addressing concerns over Ethereum’s development pace. Wang focuses on innovation and community engagement, while Stańczak strengthens protocol development and infrastructure.
Vitalik Buterin’s Increased Involvement
Vitalik Buterin played a decisive role in restructuring, ensuring Ethereum stays decentralized and innovation-driven. His renewed leadership signals a commitment to scaling and governance while countering community tensions. Vitalik supports Miyaguchi’s institutional efforts and the new leadership team, which is aiming for a stronger, more competitive Ethereum ecosystem.
The Silviculture Society: Boosting Ethereum's Core Principles
On February 28, 2025, the Ethereum Foundation launched the Silviculture Society, an external advisory group dedicated to preserving Ethereum’s foundational values. Much like silviculture in forestry cultivates and protects a healthy forest ecosystem, the Silviculture Society aims to nurture Ethereum's foundational principles for long-term growth.
The society is comprised of 15 experts, including researchers, developers, and project founders. The group will provide informal guidance to ensure Ethereum remains decentralized, open-source, and censorship-resistant.
The society's formation follows concerns over Ethereum’s stance on blockchain-based gambling and its broader mission. Alongside this, the EF pledged $1 million to support Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev’s legal defense, reinforcing its commitment to privacy and open-source principles amid increasing regulatory and industry challenges.
The Rise of Etherealize: Expanding the Ethereum Ecosystem
Etherealize is also a newly formed organization within the Ethereum ecosystem, serving as an institutional marketing and product arm. Its mission is to bridge Ethereum with traditional finance (TradFi) by showcasing its potential as "the digital economy of tomorrow." Unlike research-focused entities, Etherealize prioritizes real-world adoption and institutional integration, helping Wall Street recognize Ethereum’s value.
Co-led by Vivek Raman and Danny Ryan, Etherealize reduces reliance on Vitalik Buterin by decentralizing Ethereum’s influence. With eight full-time employees in New York and funding from Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation, it plays a crucial role in expanding Ethereum’s reach beyond the crypto-native community.
https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/1895853578167931308
Vitalik Congratulating Danny Ryan
The Differences Between Each Organisation
While some in the community speculate about multiple "Ethereum Foundations," the reality is a diverse ecosystem of independent yet complementary initiatives. Each entity plays a distinct role in Ethereum’s growth and decentralization.
The Silviculture Society provides ideological stewardship to ensure Ethereum remains committed to decentralization, privacy, and censorship resistance. Unlike Etherealize, it does not manage products or marketing but instead safeguards Ethereum’s core values.
The EF funds core development, research, and network upgrades like Pectra. Unlike Etherealize, the EF focuses on sustaining Ethereum’s long-term infrastructure, not direct institutional outreach.
Etherealize is market-driven. It promotes Ethereum to institutional finance, helping Ethereum expand beyond the crypto-native community
Unresolved Questions and Future Directions
The launch of Etherealize and the Silviculture Society, along with leadership changes in the Ethereum Foundation, has been met with enthusiasm. However, the broader sentiment around Ethereum remains weak due to harsh market conditions.
A key unknown is how well these organizations will collaborate to advance Ethereum’s future. Some may thrive and shape the ecosystem, while others could struggle for relevance. Etherealize must prove its ability to bridge TradFi and Ethereum, while the Silviculture Society must maintain Ethereum’s core values without becoming symbolic.
Vitalik Buterin will need to closely monitor these developments to ensure these efforts align with Ethereum’s decentralized vision. If misaligned or ineffective, Ethereum risks fragmentation instead of progress. Can these groups work in harmony, or will they create friction? The answer will shape Ethereum’s trajectory in the years to come.
