The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has introduced the EF Silviculture Society, a new group of individuals who will help guide the network’s long-term development while preserving its fundamental principles.
Unlike official EF members, these individuals come from outside the Foundation and offer informal advice on how Ethereum should grow while staying true to its core values: open source, privacy, security, and censorship resistance.
Ethereum is a decentralized, constantly evolving ecosystem where developers, users, and communities contribute to its growth. Like any thriving ecosystem, it needs careful attention to ensure it remains healthy and sustainable. This is where the EF Silviculture Society comes in, according to the EF.
Silviculture refers to the practice of managing forests to ensure their long-term growth and sustainability. In this case, the EF Silviculture Society will serve as Ethereum’s caretaker, helping to guide its expansion without compromising its founding principles.
Per the EF, these individuals will be the EF Silviculture Society and provide counsel to the foundation: @llamaonthebrink @alpeh_v @julianzawist @_Enoch @matthew_d_green @Fatalmeh @ml_sudo @dystopiabreaker @optimizoor @post_polar_ @pcaversaccio @LefterisJP @mashbean @1dot2 @kassandraETH.
“Ethereum’s success depends on having talented and committed developers building with these values in mind, and EF’s ethos and work has always been centered around them.” the EF stated.
While the Ethereum network and the Foundation have consistently made headlines, the past six months have seen the Ethereum Foundation particularly in the spotlight due to its sale of Ether.
The Foundation has continued selling ETH, including significant transactions in January 2025, totaling 300 ETH and valued at approximately $981,200. These sales have increased pressure on Ethereum’s price and drawn criticism from the community.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has repeatedly addressed concerns about the Ethereum Foundation’s (EF) ETH sales, defending the practice while explaining its necessity. The Ethereum Foundation has made large ETH sales, including $94 million in August 2024 and $72 million in January 2025.
In October 2024, Vitalik responded directly on X, stating, “I haven’t sold a single ETH in the past month,” and clarifying that his personal holdings had grown. Addressing the EF’s sales, he noted that the funds pay developers and researchers working on critical upgrades—like lowering fees and improving transaction speed.
He urged the community to respect these efforts, pointing to EIP-1559 and zero-knowledge technology as examples of what the money supports.
The Ethereum Foundation also announced the 2025 Academic Grants Round, aiming to support cutting-edge research across various disciplines to strengthen the Ethereum ecosystem.
There have also been leadership changes within the foundation. Aya Miyaguchi is now the president of the Ethereum Foundation after transitioning from executive director to focus on expanding Ethereum’s vision while maintaining its core principles.
One of the first acts as president was to provide $1.25 million in legal aid to the developer of Tornado Cash. This move signals a commitment to protecting developers and open-source technologies. It could bring much-needed calm and confidence to the community, especially given the regulatory pressures of previous years.
