The Ethereum Foundation is undergoing another leadership transition as Tomasz Stańczak announced he will step down from his role as co executive director at the end of February 2026. His departure marks a significant shift in the organization’s executive structure during a period of continued evolution for the Ethereum ecosystem.
Stańczak had shared leadership of the foundation with Hsiao Wei Wang since early 2025. He joined the organization following the transition of longtime executive Aya Miyaguchi, who moved into a different leadership capacity after facing community criticism that the foundation was not moving aggressively enough to advance Ethereum’s competitive position. At the time, some developers and ecosystem participants voiced concerns over strategy, coordination, and responsiveness to market dynamics.
In a public statement, Stańczak expressed confidence in the current health of both the foundation and the broader Ethereum network. He indicated that the organization is in a stable position and suggested that the executive transition reflects natural evolution rather than crisis. Bastian Aue will assume the role of co executive director alongside Wang, continuing a dual leadership model intended to balance technical stewardship and ecosystem engagement.
Stańczak’s tenure began during a period of turbulence for Ethereum, as market volatility, scaling debates, and competitive pressure from other layer one networks intensified scrutiny of the foundation’s governance. Critics had argued that the organization needed to more actively support developers, foster innovation, and align closely with the needs of builders. Leadership adjustments over the past year were widely seen as an effort to address those concerns and modernize internal structures.
Despite stepping down from formal leadership, Stańczak indicated he will remain active within the Ethereum community. He plans to work directly with founders and emerging technology projects, signaling continued commitment to Ethereum’s long term vision. His comments emphasized that the current environment remains one of the most dynamic periods for building decentralized applications and infrastructure.
The Ethereum Foundation plays a central role in coordinating research, protocol development, and ecosystem support for the Ethereum blockchain. Leadership changes within the organization often attract attention from developers, investors, and institutional participants given Ethereum’s position as the second largest cryptocurrency network by market capitalization and a key platform for decentralized finance and tokenized assets.
As the new executive team moves forward, stakeholders will be watching how the foundation navigates network upgrades, developer engagement, and competition within the broader digital asset landscape.
