The Ethereum Foundation must transform from a passive institution that responds to events, into a proactive and visionary driving force.

Author: Texture

Compiled by: Luffy, Foresight News

The Ethereum Foundation is a contradictory entity. Although it is committed to decentralization, its operating model is similar to a centralized entity, with a chairman, a treasury, paid developers, and a core circle. While this structure is necessary for coordinating the work, it conflicts with Ethereum's decentralization principle.

The Current State of the Foundation

Many may not be aware that the current structure of the Ethereum Foundation is not ideal. The former leader, Ming, was ousted by a group of people whose identities have never been made public and who have not been held accountable for this action. In the days before Ming's dismissal, I spoke with her, and she revealed that she had no intention of leaving. Later, someone told me who was behind her dismissal, but they did not explain the reason. I heard that Ming was hands-on in some matters, and her strong-willed approach made some people uncomfortable. I believe there is some truth to these claims, but these are often just surface-level reasons, and there may be deeper underlying truths.

Based on the organization's operational approach over the past seven years, I can infer some well-intentioned reasons. An important responsibility of the organization is to prevent internal power struggles and external control. These are noble goals, and they seem to have effectively achieved them.

Another major focus appears to be minimizing the organization's public exposure and building itself in a way that will not invite government anger and accountability when the political winds shift. But as the political landscape changes and alternative solutions emerge in the market, the organization itself must adapt in form and function.

Ethereum has been a highly visionary project from the very beginning, with implications that go beyond just the technical realm. By empowering individuals to achieve things that previously required billions of dollars, thousands of people, or millions of man-hours, it has pointed to previously unimaginable future possibilities.

However, the current Ethereum Foundation, in its efforts to minimize internal and external threats, has lost that sense of vision.

Guided by Vision

Ethereum's next stage requires more than just technical research and coordination. It needs visionary leaders who not only understand the technology but also its broader social, philosophical, and political implications. This leader must inspire a new generation of builders, connect technology to human needs, and navigate complex political landscapes without compromising Ethereum's principles.

The Ethereum white paper is not just a technical document; it is more like a lighthouse, allowing like-minded individuals to gather around a shared vision. In the face of chaos, uncertainty, and frequent conflicts, it has provided a sense of direction. What ensures our collective success is not the absence of challenges, but our clear understanding of the peak we are striving to climb. This shared vision allows us to maintain unity even in the face of disagreements and setbacks.

This is an idea that has emerged organically, a blueprint that transcends the individuals behind it, inspiring a community to persist, innovate, and ultimately realize this vision. Without it, the project is likely to crumble under the weight of its own ambitions.

Maintain Transparency and Focus on the Community

Transparency is also crucial. In recent years, the Foundation has gradually retreated from the public eye, leaving the community feeling disconnected. But without the community, Ethereum would achieve nothing; without the community, Ethereum would be meaningless. A community needs to be managed, nurtured, and cared for. It needs to attract new members, infuse new energy and ideas, all while being bound by a shared vision. This includes the teams developing on Ethereum.

Seize the Regulatory Opportunity

From a legal perspective, Ethereum must seize the opportunity to engage with lawmakers. The current political environment in the United States is particularly favorable, and if we do not act now, we may lose the advantage. The elected US President, Trump, not only holds Ethereum but has also launched a lending protocol on it. Just a year ago, the Democratic Party openly declared war on cryptocurrencies, and the future looked uncertain, but the political landscape we find ourselves in now was unimaginable then. This is the best time to ensure that cryptocurrencies fulfill their promises.

While maintaining political neutrality, the Foundation can create or promote frameworks that encourage compliance and innovation. Without such frameworks, the cryptocurrency space will be filled with speculative projects: Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and others that are evading regulation rather than building sustainable applications within the regulatory boundaries.

Lead by Example and Self-Manage with Technology

The Ethereum Foundation should also consider using its own technology to coordinate its operations, demonstrating the transformative potential of decentralized systems. By adopting Ethereum-based tools and protocols, the Foundation could manage governance, treasury spending, decision-making processes, and community engagement.

This approach not only showcases Ethereum's capabilities but also strengthens trust within the community by practicing the principles of decentralization and transparency that the project advocates. Furthermore, using the Ethereum ecosystem for coordination can serve as a real-world case study, inspiring developers and other organizations to explore similar solutions. By integrating its own technology into its operations, the Foundation can both highlight the platform's practical applications in the real world and set a precedent for how decentralized systems can effectively manage complex organizations.

Assume Responsibility and Build the Future

Finally, financial accountability must be a top priority.

The Foundation spends $100 million annually and should deliver measurable results. While it has invested heavily in technical research, the user experience of cryptocurrencies has stagnated. Improving user experience, user interfaces, key management, and other security and usability issues are not insurmountable, but they have been severely neglected. This oversight reflects a blind spot that must be addressed if Ethereum is to achieve broader adoption.

Ethereum has never been just a technical project; it is a visionary movement aimed at empowering individuals and enabling them to achieve things that previously required vast resources. This vision is now at risk of fading. To reignite this vision, the Foundation must embrace transparency, focus on developing leadership, actively engage with the community, and make its mark in the legal and political spheres.

Ethereum's story is a victory over chaos and a powerful testament to the force of collective vision. To ensure its future, the Ethereum Foundation must transform from a passive institution that responds to events, into a proactive and visionary driving force. For Ethereum, for the community, for the greater good, and for the future.