Milady PFP, an angry Vitalik Buterin and leadership shakeups: what exactly is happening at the Ethereum Foundation these days?
For months, Ethereum holders have complained that the network’s leadership often seems more focused on niche technical goals than the public perception and political considerations that have become increasingly critical for others. leading projects and companies in the sector.
Certainly, the fact that the price of ETH is stubbornly stagnating has become a even in the midst of an otherwise historical context crypto boom doesn’t help matters.
Last week, the Ethereum Foundation appeared to begin to address these complaints, revamping its X account (formerly Twitter) with a more public-facing account, cheeky vernacular.
Before long, potentially wishful rumors began circulating online that the Foundation was reshuffling its top brass, primarily replacing the long-time Executive Director. Aya Miyaguchi.
A few days later, Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin confirmed that the Foundation was indeed making “big changes,” but noted that these efforts had been going on for almost a year.
While Buterin revealed that the organization is actively working to improve its connections with ecosystem players and engage more actively with app creators and everyday users, he also highlighted what Ethereum would do. not do: give in to pressure from Crypto Twitter to “execute some kind of ideological/vibe pivot from the feminized soy mentality of the WEF to the Bronze Age mentality.”
He also added that Ethereum would categorically refrain from “aggressively lobbying regulators and powerful political figures,” an allusion to the intensive efforts by many crypto industry executives to comfortably to US President Donald Trump in recent weeks.
However, just minutes after Saturday’s provocative post, Charlotte Fang, creator of the controversial Madam NFT collection, implored Buterin to “embrace Milady” and the aggressive online fandom she represents.
Incredibly, Buterin – who largely refrains from engaging with the bolder sides of Crypto Twitter – then immediately relented, changing her X profile picture to Milady.
Other changes to Ethereum are underway. Monday, the Ethereum Foundation facility a wallet funded by 50,000 ETH – a sum worth approximately $165 million at the time of writing – to participate in Ethereum’s decentralized financial ecosystem and support associated projects. Ethereum DeFi Executives Like Aave Founder Stani Kulechov immediately hailed the announcement as a major breakthrough.
And yet, the masses have still not been appeased. When a crypto influencer job that X users should “keep the pressure on” Miyaguchi in an effort to force her to resign and increase the price of ETH, Buterin responded aggressively.
“No. That’s not how this game works,” the Ethereum creator wrote on Tuesday.If you “keep the pressure on,” you are creating an actively toxic environment for top talent. Some of Ethereum’s top developers have recently sent me messages, expressing their disgust at the social media environment that people like you are creating.
Buterin subsequently posted a number of abusive messages disparaging Ethereum Foundation employees, denouncing them while emphasizing that only he had the power to decide who will lead the organization in the future.
He then signed by posting the word “Milady” several times.
A provocative tone for the co-founder of Ethereum in difficulty? Certainly. A demonstration of Bronze Age mentality? Maybe indeed.
Many builders and industry observers have hailed Buterin’s recent moves as a pivot toward “war mode,” with an apparent shift in attitude, a potential leadership shakeup and DeFi initiatives showing a founder who is in the trenches and listens to feedback – and fights for the future of the industry. Ethereum.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
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