Inside the Ethereum Foundation Overhaul: is a Multi-Node Structure Bullish?

For years, the EF has been the gravitational center of Ethereum's development.

It funded researchers, coordinated protocol upgrades, and set the direction.

But over the past year, the cracks became impossible to ignore.

leadership turnover, budget strain, and most importantly, a deliberate decision to narrow its focus, pulling back from its brief focus on product and returning to its core mission around censorship resistance, decentralization, and foundational research.

The EF essentially told the community, we're doing less, you step up now.

And so they did.

Within a matter of weeks, 50 institutions and Ethereum leaders came together to form EAT Labs.

For years, the EF has been the gravitational center of Ethereum's development.

It funded researchers, coordinated protocol upgrades, and set the direction.

But over the past year, the cracks became impossible to ignore.

leadership turnover, budget strain, and most importantly, a deliberate decision to narrow its focus, pulling back from its brief focus on product and returning to its core mission around censorship resistance, decentralization, and foundational research.

The EF essentially told the community, we're doing less, you step up now.

And so they did.

Within a matter of weeks, 50 institutions and Ethereum leaders came together to form EAT Labs.