The Ethereum community might clash with the leadership since a significant proportion of ETH holders are behind an informal vote to decide whether Danny Ryan, a researcher and a developer, is fit to lead the Ethereum Foundation (EF). On the other hand, the EF and its existing leadership may not have the same intentions.
Ethereum Foundation Leadership Structures
An informal poll was undertaken regarding the consolidation of power in the EF by Danny Ryan. So far, 553 ETH holders share approximately 160 million dollars, or 51,247.81 ETH, and have withdrawn themselves from the vote.
Their average stake is around $290,000 which could support the assumption that Ryan can be a good fit for the job. After all, Ryan did help Ethereum in moving from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS) and remains to be one of the prominent characters in the ecosystem.
In September 2024, Ryan claimed health issues as the reason for stepping down from working on Ethereum’s Layer-1 (L1) research and development, which resulted in him also leaving the EF.
In the midst of all the disputes on the future of the EF, there is a bright side, as Ryan posted on X on January 21 that the EF is going toward a “new era”, and that he is optimistic.
He stated that he has already talked to Vitalik Buterin and some of the EF members about the possibility of working with them in the future. Although appreciating the community, Ryan warned that certain discussions going on have begun to be counterproductive.
“The EF is improving with or without me,” he said. “This process is being harmed by too much negativity… your efforts were recognized.”
Fabrice Cheng organized the informal vote in which a website was created to make it easier for the Ethereum community to vote Yes/No on Ryan’s candidacy.
Possible Alternatives For Leadership
Joseph Lubin, co-founder of the EF and ConsenSys, as well as Ethereum, is highly supportive of Ryan’s leadership but requested a co-leadership type of governance. He recommended him to work together with Jerome de Tychey, CEO of Cometh and President of Ethereum France.
“Pairing Jerome and Danny to lead the EF would bring a surge of energy, talent, innovative thinking, creative marketing, and drive — exactly what the Ethereum community needs so that it can consider itself the leading, most versatile, and trusted blockchain ecosystem,” said Lubin.
Interestingly, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has not given his opinion regarding these developments, which is a major change from his previous position.
For some time, Buterin had claimed that it is his prerogative alone to determine the new head of EF. His current silence raises questions among the community as to where the foundation is headed.
