Vitalik Buterin Reaffirms Authority and Condemns Harassment Amid Leadership Debate in Ethereum Foundation
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin took to X on January 21 to shut down calls for a leadership shakeup within the Ethereum Foundation. He firmly rejected suggestions to elevate Danny Ryan, a prominent Ethereum researcher and developer, to a leadership position, stating that the decision remains his own responsibility. This declaration follows rising pressure within the community to change the leadership structure.
Buterin, while addressing these calls, also condemned the growing wave of harassment against Aya Miyaguchi, the foundation’s executive director since 2018. Certain members of the crypto community have resorted to toxic behavior, including death threats, which Buterin described as "pure evil." He emphasized that such harassment only harms Ethereum’s talent pool, warning that it makes it harder for him to carry out his duties and undermines the foundation’s potential for progress.
The calls for Ryan's promotion stem from his pivotal role in Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake (PoS), with supporters citing his technical expertise as a natural fit for the foundation’s leadership. However, Buterin made it clear that any changes to leadership should be seen as part of planned reforms, which will introduce a "proper board" in the future.
In his response, Buterin further criticized the online climate that has intensified this debate, expressing that certain factions within the community have become actively toxic to top talent. He argued that this negativity is counterproductive and detrimental to Ethereum’s goals of promoting decentralization and supporting developers.
Buterin had previously announced plans for significant changes to the foundation’s leadership on January 18, focusing on better communication between the foundation and developers. He outlined key goals such as enhancing privacy, censorship resistance, and further decentralizing Ethereum’s ecosystem.
Despite these ambitious reforms, Buterin remains resolute in his leadership over the foundation, signaling that any shift in direction would be his decision alone, untouched by social media pressures.