Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation, effective immediately, the organization confirmed recently. Wang is the eighth senior figure to leave the foundation in five months, part of a broader pattern that has seen roughly 19 staff departures in 2026 as the organization faces a $30 million annual funding gap. Board member Bastian Aue has stepped in temporarily while the foundation searches for permanent leadership.
Hsiao-Wei Wang Steps Down as Co-Executive Director
Wang's departure leaves the Ethereum Foundation without a permanent co-executive director for the second time in 2026, following the earlier exit of fellow co-executive director Tomasz Stanczak. In a statement, Wang wrote: "I've come to feel that this is the right moment for me to step back. Ethereum has always been bigger than any one role, any one organization, or any one moment." Board member Bastian Aue has stepped in to oversee the transition.
Eight Senior Figures Depart in Five Months
At least eight senior figures have left the Ethereum Foundation over the past five months. The departures are part of a broader churn that has seen roughly 19 layoffs and exits across the organization in 2026. Five senior researchers departed in May alone. The exodus has unfolded as Ethereum faces mounting competition from rival blockchains and as ether has traded roughly flat over nine years, sitting well below its inflation-adjusted 2017 high.
Ethereum Foundation Faces $30 Million Funding Shortfall
The leadership turnover coincides with funding concerns at the Ethereum Foundation. Trent Van Epps, who coordinated funding for Ethereum's core developers, exited in April and warned that core developers could run short of funding within three to nine months. Van Epps cited spending cuts and the winding down of the foundation's Client Incentive Program. He estimated that sustaining Ethereum's core development ecosystem costs about $30 million a year.
Leadership Turnover Raises Governance Concerns
The Ethereum Foundation is a nonprofit steward that funds research, supports client teams, and maintains the network's neutrality. A revolving door at the top can stall long-term research commitments, complicate grant decisions, and unsettle the developer community that upgrades the chain. Wang, a long-tenured figure who took a sabbatical before deciding to step away, positioned her exit as a personal decision rather than a crisis at the foundation. Bastian Aue and the remaining board will stabilize the organization while it searches for durable leadership. The foundation has signaled it wants to slim down and refocus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Hsiao-Wei Wang resign from the Ethereum Foundation?
A: Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned as co-executive director and board member effective immediately. In a statement, Wang wrote that she felt "this is the right moment for me to step back," positioning her exit as a personal decision. Her departure is the eighth senior exit from the Ethereum Foundation in five months.
Q: How many staff have left the Ethereum Foundation in 2026?
A: Roughly 19 staff have left the Ethereum Foundation in 2026 through layoffs and exits. At least eight senior figures departed over the past five months, with five senior researchers leaving in May alone. Board member Bastian Aue has stepped in temporarily after Wang's resignation left the organization without a permanent co-executive director for the second time in 2026.
Q: What funding challenges does the Ethereum Foundation face?
A: The Ethereum Foundation faces a $30 million annual funding gap. Trent Van Epps, who coordinated funding for core developers before exiting in April, warned that core developers could run short of funding within three to nine months. Van Epps cited spending cuts and the winding down of the foundation's Client Incentive Program as factors in the shortfall.
