The Ethereum Foundation has lost another senior leader as co-executive director Hsiao-Wei Wang announced her departure, adding to a growing list of exits that have intensified discussions about Ethereum’s governance, leadership, and long-term direction. This comes as the network faces increasing competition and ongoing debates over decentralization, scaling, and ecosystem management.
After my sabbatical, I have decided to step down as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn), effective today.
That time gave me space to reflect on my priorities and the kind of life I want to build next. During my break, Bastian…
— hww.eth | Hsiao-Wei Wang (@hwwonx) June 18, 2026
In a post on X, Wang confirmed she stepped down after a recent sabbatical. She described Ethereum as larger than any individual role and said she has not yet decided on her next step.
.@hwwonx has been a steadfast contributor to the Ethereum ecosystem for a decade. I still remember her early days in the Ethereum research community, first outside the Foundation and then inside it, and the thought and care she put into making Ethereum research and consensus work…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 18, 2026
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin acknowledged the challenges of the role, noting that Wang held one of the most demanding leadership positions in the organization. Her departure follows the exit of co-executive director Tomasz Stanczak earlier this year.
Reports indicate the Ethereum Foundation has seen about 19 departures and layoffs in 2026. While turnover is not unusual for large organizations, the loss of senior contributors has drawn significant attention from the crypto community.
These leadership changes occur amid broader discussions about Ethereum’s future. Critics argue the Foundation should take a more active role in promoting and coordinating development. Buterin has countered that the Foundation is only one participant in a much larger decentralized ecosystem.
In March, the Foundation reiterated its commitment to decentralization through what it called the “walkaway test” — the idea that Ethereum should continue functioning effectively even if the Foundation and current core developers disappeared.
The debate has extended to Layer-2 networks. Buterin recently suggested the original vision for Layer-2 scaling may need reconsideration as Ethereum’s base layer improves.
The latest departure highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing decentralization, leadership, and long-term strategy within one of the world’s largest blockchain ecosystems.
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