The EF Is Shrinking. What Does It Mean for Ethereum — and ETH?

Summary

Laura Shin hosts Zak Cole and Greg Markou to discuss the Ethereum Foundation's recent departures, its refocus on CROPS principles, and the declining price of ETH. The guests criticize the EF's governance, lack of engagement with the community, and failure to treat ETH's price as strategically important. They debate whether Ethereum can maintain its lead against competitors like Solana and Hyperliquid.

• The Ethereum Foundation is shrinking, with senior researchers and executives departing after Tomas Stone left as co-executive director.
• Vitalik Buterin reaffirmed the EF's focus on CROPS (censorship resistance, open source, privacy, security) and called ETH the most valuable product of the network.
• Zak Cole accuses the EF of being out of touch and running Ethereum like an 'infinite garden' rather than a mature organization.
• Greg Markou argues the EF needs 'grown-ups' on its board and should lean on external teams for execution.
• David Hoffman of Bankless sold his last ETH, but guests dismiss it as attention-seeking or personal portfolio management.
• Both guests believe ETH's price is crucial for network security but say the EF has not prioritized it.
• The competitive landscape is shifting, with Solana, Tron, and Hyperliquid taking blockchain revenue share.
• Guests call for more transparency, accountability, and external voices on the EF board.