On June 3, the Ethereum Foundation announced a major reorganization of its core R&D team, renaming the department to Protocol and initiating personnel structure optimization, which has attracted widespread attention in the community. According to the information disclosed by the official, this adjustment releases multiple key signals:
I. Strategic focus behind the reorganization: Three major technical challenges
According to the foundation's announcement, the core goal of the reorganization is to anchor the three strategic tracks of Ethereum's underlying protocol:
- Network scalability upgrade: Directly addressing transaction speed and cost pain points, promoting improvements in on-chain processing efficiency through technological iteration to alleviate congestion issues;
- Data availability optimization: Focus on deepening the blobspace (data storage space) mechanism to provide more efficient data support for the Layer2 ecosystem;
- User experience innovation: Reduce the threshold for use from dimensions such as interaction processes and development tools, enhancing accessibility for ordinary users and developers.
This adjustment means that Ethereum is transitioning from 'ecological expansion' to 'underlying consolidation', attempting to strengthen the competitiveness of Layer1 public chains by focusing on core technological bottlenecks.
II. Bidirectional impact on the ecosystem: coexistence of opportunities and challenges
✅ Positive signals: Efficiency enhancement and ecological synergy
- R&D efficiency focus: After streamlining team structure, resources will be tilted towards key technological directions, with hopes of accelerating the implementation of core proposals like the Cancun upgrade (EIP-4844);
- Strengthening transparency: The official emphasizes that it will enhance the frequency of technology progress disclosures through regular reports and community communication, boosting confidence among developers and users;
- Talent ecosystem mobility: Members leaving the team are encouraged to participate in other projects within the ecosystem, indirectly promoting the diffusion of technical experience within the Ethereum ecosystem.
⚠️ Potential risks: Short-term fluctuations and governance disputes
- Uncertainty in technological rhythm: Team structure adjustments may lead to fluctuations in the advancement cycle of some medium- to long-term roadmaps (such as sharding technology);
- Concerns about talent gaps: If core members leave too quickly, it may put pressure on technical continuity;
- Community governance disagreements: The decision-making independence of the foundation as a non-profit organization may provoke further discussions among some community members regarding governance transparency.
III. Deep logic: 'Efficiency revolution' under public chain competition
This reorganization is essentially an active adjustment by Ethereum in the face of market competition—in the context of accelerated iterations of public chains like Solana and Avalanche, as well as the thriving development of the Layer2 ecosystem, Ethereum needs to consolidate its leading position through 'self-reform' of its underlying protocol. The shift from 'focusing on ecology' to 'focusing on technology' not only reflects a compensation for the shortcomings in user experience but also implies a reorganization of the collaborative model between Layer1 and Layer2.
Summary: An internal reform aimed at 'long-termism'
The reorganization of the Ethereum Foundation is not coincidental but a necessary choice as public chains reach maturity. Whether it's the focus on technological direction, optimization of team efficiency, or a commitment to community transparency, the core all point to one goal: to maintain sustainable ecological vitality for Ethereum in the blockchain 2.0 era. Can the Protocol team carry the banner of technological breakthroughs? The effectiveness of this 'internal surgery' may gradually become apparent in the technological implementation rhythm over the next 6-12 months.
