- Vitalik Buterin says the Ethereum Foundation is not Ethereum’s center but one independent ecosystem participant.
- The Ethereum Foundation plans to focus more on privacy, censorship resistance, security, and long-term infrastructure.
- Buterin said Ethereum should prioritize openness and resilience instead of competing mainly on transaction speed.
Vitalik Buterin said the Ethereum Foundation is not the center of Ethereum but one smaller node with a defined mission. In a lengthy statement released during the foundation’s ongoing transition period, Buterin said the EF will narrow its focus toward censorship resistance, privacy, openness, and security. He added that the organization will become smaller, more opinionated, and more focused on long-term technical priorities.
Ethereum Foundation Narrows Its Role
According to Buterin, the EF was never designed to operate as Ethereum’s permanent steward. He said the foundation originally focused on building Ethereum’s early infrastructure phases, including Frontier, Homestead, Metropolis, and Serenity.
Buterin noted those original objectives were completed in 2022. As a result, he said the EF now plans to preserve resources and reduce operational breadth.
Meanwhile, Buterin stated the foundation controls roughly 0.16% of all ETH. He contrasted that figure with other blockchain foundations, which often control between 10% and 50% of supply.
He also said some ecosystem participants expected the EF to function as Ethereum’s central authority. However, he stressed the organization now wants to operate alongside other independent ecosystem groups.
Buterin Pushes Privacy And Security Goals
Buterin identified censorship resistance and intermediary minimization as key Ethereum priorities. He highlighted work involving smart contract wallets, privacy protocols, public mempools, and inclusion-focused upgrades.
Notably, he pointed to AI-assisted formal verification as a possible path toward bug-free Ethereum infrastructure. He also discussed Ethereum’s consensus model and fault tolerance as major technical differentiators.
According to Buterin, Ethereum should avoid competing only on transaction speed or scalability. Instead, he said Ethereum must focus on openness, privacy, and capture resistance.
He also referenced ongoing work involving lean consensus and erasure-coded peer-to-peer systems. Those efforts, according to Buterin, remain compatible with lower slot times and scaling improvements.
ETH Support Extends Beyond The EF
Buterin described ETH as Ethereum’s most financially valuable product. However, he said some work supporting ETH as an asset falls outside the EF’s responsibilities.
According to Buterin, other organizations within the ecosystem should handle parts of that work. He added the EF recently explored ways to coordinate with external groups while providing early support.
The Ethereum co-founder also said his influence inside the organization will continue decreasing. He stated the board is expanding while other leaders, including Aerugo, manage much of the transition process.
