The Ethereum Foundation has officially disbanded its protocol support team, the latest step in a broader reorganization that has already seen the foundation reduce its workforce by about 20%. The team announced its disbandment through the official X account on July 9th, just over a year after its founding.
What the protocol support team did
Launched in 2023 as part of an organizational reorganization, the Protocol Support team was tasked with coordinating Ethereum protocol development, managing hard fork schedules, supporting protocol governance, and training new core developers. Its dissolution signals a change in how the Foundation approaches these important functions going forward.
The team’s role was deemed essential to maintaining the stability and direction of Ethereum’s core development, especially as the network transitions through major upgrades. The decision to disband has raised questions among community members about how these responsibilities will be redistributed.
Background to the broader restructuring
The move follows a major restructuring announced last month, in which the Ethereum Foundation laid off 54 employees, about a fifth of its total staff. The foundation said the job cuts are part of an effort to streamline operations and focus resources on core priorities.
Going forward, the Foundation will operate with five core departments: Protocols, Access, Users, Community, and Institutions, as well as an operational and administrative support team. According to Foundation leadership, the new structure is intended to reduce redundancy and improve decision-making efficiency.
Impact on Ethereum development
Disbanding the protocol support team does not mean protocol development stops, but it does raise questions about how coordination and governance will be managed. The Foundation has not yet provided details about which teams or individuals will take over the team’s previous responsibilities.
Some developers in the Ethereum ecosystem have expressed concern that the loss of a dedicated coordination team could delay decision-making regarding future upgrades. Some see reorganization as a necessary step to cut overhead and focus on high-impact operations.
For the broader Ethereum community, this change signals a more disciplined and cost-conscious approach at its foundations, one that prioritizes efficiency over expansion. This could have long-term implications for how Ethereum’s development roadmap is managed and communicated.
conclusion
The dissolution of the Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol Support team is a significant organizational change that reflects a broader effort to streamline operations following recent layoffs. Although the Foundation has not disclosed detailed plans for how protocol adjustments will be handled in the future, the move is part of an apparent shift to a leaner, more focused structure. Developers and stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these changes impact Ethereum’s development pace and governance.
FAQ
Q1: Why was the Protocol Support team disbanded?
The team was disbanded as part of the Ethereum Foundation’s broader restructuring aimed at cutting costs and streamlining operations. The foundation has not provided a specific reason other than a general reorganization.
Q2: Will this affect Ethereum’s development roadmap?
Although it’s too early to tell, the loss of a dedicated coordination team could impact how future upgrades are managed. The Foundation has not yet provided details on how the team’s responsibilities will be redistributed.
Q3: How many employees were laid off in total?
The Ethereum Foundation has cut 54 employees, or about 20% of its staff, as part of a reorganization announced last month.
