In a recent informal poll, Ethereum community members have shown strong support for Danny Ryan to become the next leader of the Ethereum Foundation (EF). The vote was conducted by ETH wallet holders, who collectively control more than 55,516.34 ETH, an amount worth around $170 million. Many participants in the poll believe Ryan is the right person to guide the foundation into the future.
Danny Ryan is well known in the Ethereum ecosystem for his work as a researcher and developer, particularly in Ethereum’s shift from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. His supporters argue that his deep technical expertise and vision for Ethereum make him the best candidate to lead the foundation.
Aya Miyaguchi under scrutiny
The Ethereum Foundation, led by Aya Miyaguchi since 2018, is currently facing criticism from segments of the Ethereum community. Some believe that changes in leadership could improve the foundation’s efficiency. Although there is no official confirmation that Miyaguchi will step down, the vote indicates a rising demand for change within the organization.
Despite the strong community backing for Ryan, Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has stated that he remains the main decision-maker regarding EF leadership.
He said that while he listens to community input, leadership decisions will not be determined by public votes. He has also defended the current structure of the foundation and called for less negativity in discussions about its future.
“No, that’s not how this game works. I am the one deciding the new EF leadership team. One of the goals of the current reform is to establish a ‘proper board’ for EF, but until then, I will make the decisions,” he tweeted on his X account.
The Ethereum community remains divided on how leadership should be handled. Some believe a more decentralized approach, where the broader community has a say in leadership decisions, is necessary. Others trust Buterin’s judgment in choosing the best leadership team. governance in Ethereum’s development.
Sales of ETH by the EF
Another issue plaguing the EF is the ongoing sale of ETH tokens from its treasury. The Ethereum community has reacted with frustration and skepticism to the Ethereum Foundation’s recent ETH token sales.
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Community members have criticized the Foundation for consistently selling ETH, especially as the market struggles to gain momentum. Some argue that these sales contribute to price suppression and question why the Foundation doesn’t stake its ETH to generate yield without selling.
Vitalik Buterin defended the sales, stating that the funds are necessary to support Ethereum’s development, including research, security, and network improvements. He also explained that staking could create conflicts during contentious network forks, which the Foundation wants to avoid.
Despite his defense, backlash intensified when a Foundation employee’s attempt to justify the sales backfired, prompting more criticism from the community.
Buterin has suggested that the Foundation is now exploring staking options to reduce reliance on selling ETH.
For now, the vote in favor of Danny Ryan does not guarantee any immediate leadership changes at the Ethereum Foundation, but it signals a strong sentiment within the community for new leadership. Will this translate into a real leadership change or not?
