The Ethereum Foundation’s New Exec Directors Talk Vision and Action

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Ethereum is entering a pivotal phase in its evolution, marked by strategic reorganization, accelerated development timelines, and renewed focus on user-centric innovation. At the heart of this transformation are Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stanczak, the newly appointed co-executive directors of the Ethereum Foundation (EF). In a recent conversation with Bankless, they laid out a clear roadmap for revitalizing the network and addressing long-standing community concerns.

This article unpacks their vision, operational plans, and the structural changes designed to propel Ethereum into its next chapter—faster, more resilient, and more inclusive than ever.

The Ethereum Foundation’s Strategic Vision

At the core of the EF’s refreshed strategy are two foundational goals that define its mission:

  1. Maximize Ethereum adoption in a way that aligns with its core values—decentralization, censorship resistance, privacy, and open access.
  2. Strengthen the resilience of Ethereum’s technical and social infrastructure through sustainable ecosystem growth.

These principles aren’t just abstract ideals. They translate into tangible outcomes:

The EF sees itself not as Ethereum’s owner, but as a steward—filling critical gaps in research, funding, and coordination while empowering others to build.

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A New Leadership Model: Operational Agility Meets Principle-Driven Governance

Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stanczak bring complementary strengths to their roles:

Their partnership reflects a deliberate balance: principled governance meets rapid delivery.

The new management structure reinforces this duality:

This separation allows faster decision-making without compromising decentralization or oversight.

Three Key Objectives for 2025–2026

Guided by censorship resistance, open-source collaboration, privacy, and security, the EF has set three primary goals for the next 12–18 months:

1. Scale Ethereum Mainnet

Increase Layer 1 throughput and transaction speed through targeted upgrades like:

2. Expand Blob Space

Support the explosive growth of Layer 2 networks by increasing data availability via blob-carrying transactions—a critical enabler for rollups.

3. Improve User Experience

Focus on seamless interoperability between L2s and enhanced developer tooling, including early integration of app builders into protocol design discussions.

These objectives are backed by an aggressive hard fork schedule designed to accelerate progress.

The Accelerated Roadmap: Pectra, Fusaka, Glamsterdam

To meet growing competition from other Layer 1 blockchains, the EF has adopted a six-month upgrade cycle, cutting the previous 12–18 month timeline in half.

Here’s what’s coming:

🔹 Pectra (May 2025)

🔹 Fusaka (September–October 2025)

🔹 Glamsterdam (June 2026)

“Turning ambition into reality depends on the focus of core development teams,” said Tomasz Stanczak. The six-month cadence ensures continuous momentum.

Operational Reforms Driving Faster Execution

Speed without structure leads to chaos. To ensure reliable delivery, the EF is implementing internal reforms:

These changes reflect a shift from a research-first culture to one that values practical impact and measurable outcomes.

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Clarifying the EF’s Role in the Ecosystem

A recurring theme in the interview was clarifying what the Ethereum Foundation does—and doesn’t—do:

✅ What EF Does:

❌ What EF Doesn’t Do:

Instead, the EF acts as a catalyst—stepping in where gaps exist but aiming to hand off responsibilities to decentralized teams as soon as possible.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Q: What makes this leadership change different from past transitions?
A: Unlike previous shifts focused on continuity, this one introduces a deliberate dual-leadership model combining deep protocol knowledge (Wang) with operational excellence (Stanczak), designed specifically to address speed and alignment issues.

Q: How will faster upgrades affect network stability?
A: By focusing on incremental, well-tested changes and involving client teams early, the EF aims to maintain stability while accelerating progress. Each fork builds on lessons from the last.

Q: Is account abstraction going to be mandatory?
A: No. EIP-7702 enables optional account abstraction, giving users and developers more flexibility without forcing adoption.

Q: How is the EF measuring success?
A: Through public dashboards tracking metrics like transaction speed, node performance, grant impact, and developer engagement—ensuring transparency and accountability.

Q: Will Layer 2s become obsolete if L1 scales so much?
A: Quite the opposite. Scaling L1 enhances L2 capabilities by reducing costs and improving data availability. The future is multi-layered, not either/or.

Q: How can developers get involved in upcoming upgrades?
A: Through GitHub discussions, All Core Dev calls, EF grants programs, and direct participation in testnet deployments like Fusaka’s devnet.

Final Thoughts: A Network Rebooted

The Ethereum Foundation’s latest moves signal more than just an organizational update—they represent a strategic reboot aimed at restoring momentum and trust.

With Hsiao-Wei Wang safeguarding Ethereum’s soul and Tomasz Stanczak driving execution pace, the network is better positioned than ever to meet rising demand, fend off competition, and fulfill its promise as a truly open digital infrastructure.

The path forward includes bold targets:

Backed by concrete plans, structural reforms, and a principled yet pragmatic approach, Ethereum isn’t just evolving—it’s accelerating.

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