Latest news: Trent Van Epps says Ethereum’s long-term decentralization strategy is entering a critical transition phase.
- Van Epps said he left the Ethereum Foundation after it became clear that the organization would accelerate its “subtraction” philosophy of driving authority and legitimacy in the broader ecosystem.
- He described the Ethereum Foundation as intentionally reducing its central role rather than consolidating power, arguing that multiple independent institutions should eventually coordinate the ecosystem.
- The comments come after recent changes in the Ethereum Foundation’s leadership and workforce reductions, which have fueled questions about the future governance of Ethereum.
- Van Epps joined CoinDesk’s Jennifer Sanasie on Markets Outlook.
What does this mean: Van Epps argues that Ethereum faces a practical funding challenge rather than an existential crisis.
- He estimated that the development of the core protocol requires approximately $30 million a year, even as the Ethereum Foundation’s treasury gradually declines over time.
- According to Van Epps, the issue is not to reduce technical needs but to identify new organizations willing to fund public goods that keep the network reliable and secure.
- He said his Protocol Guild initiative has distributed nearly $40 million to core Ethereum developers over about four years, but it is not enough on its own to replace broader ecosystem funding.
