Amidst leadership changes at the Ethereum Foundation (EF), Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin publicly expressed his gratitude to outgoing co-executive director Tomasz K. Stańczak. This gesture not only conveyed personal thanks but also signaled the foundation's ongoing transformation and strengthened governance.
The announcement of his resignation marks a phase of leadership reshuffling.
Tomasz K. Stańczak, former co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, announced on February 13, 2026, that he would step down from his position as co-executive director (co-ED) at the end of the month. Tomasz was the founder of Nethermind, the main Ethereum client development team, and joined the Ethereum Foundation in 2025, co-leading the foundation with Hsiao-Wei.
However, after stepping down, Tomasz will remain in the Ethereum ecosystem, focusing on core development, product implementation, and agent-related governance. The foundation also announced that Bastian Aue will succeed him as co-executive director, emphasizing that this change is a temporary adjustment and not a directional shift.
Vitalik posted a message of gratitude, highly praising his contributions during his tenure.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin then posted on the social media platform X, publicly expressing his high regard and gratitude for Tomasz's performance during his tenure.
Unique vision and organizational culture influence
Vitalik pointed out that Tomasz brought a distinct and unique perspective, not only continuing the organizational culture he established at Nethermind, but also promoting deeper reflection on the nature of Ethereum within the foundation. He believes that Tomasz offered a different viewpoint on the future global positioning of blockchain compared to mainstream factions, providing the community with a broader space for discussion.
Improve efficiency and strengthen external response capabilities
Vitalik further pointed out that during his short one-year tenure, Tomasz significantly improved the operational efficiency of multiple departments within the foundation, enabling EF to respond more quickly and flexibly to external changes. He encouraged the organization to step out of its comfort zone, actively try new things, and inject new energy into the foundation.
Facing the AI revolution and driving a shift in mindset
Vitalik emphasized that one of Tomasz's key contributions was prompting the team to take a more serious look at the profound impact that artificial intelligence (AI) could have on the blockchain world. Against the backdrop of accelerated global technological development, the convergence of AI and blockchain is gradually becoming a focal point of the industry, and EF's inclusion of this in its strategic vision is seen by outsiders as a forward-looking move.
Behind the personnel changes lies the foundation's transformation direction.
In my opinion, Vitalik's public response, in addition to his personal gratitude, also conveys a broader organizational message: the Ethereum Foundation is moving towards a more efficient, open, and innovative direction.
This aligns with the reforms promoted during Tomasz's tenure and echoes Vitalik's long-held belief that Ethereum should remain technologically neutral while rapidly adapting to changes in the external environment. As the blockchain industry matures and regulation and technological innovation proceed in tandem, the foundation's coordinating role becomes increasingly crucial.
The following is Vitalik's original post:
What has always impressed me about Tomasz is his work ethic, his unique personality, and the organizational culture he built at Nethermind. He brings a perspective to Ethereum, the nature of blockchain, and how they can integrate into the future of the world—a perspective that is highly creative, unique, and unlike any other faction I've seen in cryptocurrency discussions.
During his year at EF, Tomasz significantly improved the efficiency of many parts of the foundation, making EF a more responsive and agile organization. He injected new energy into the organization, and thanks to his encouragement and support, the Ethereum Foundation now frequently undertakes tasks outside its previous comfort zone.
He also encouraged us all to think differently about what Ethereum can do and how it should be used, and to take seriously the dramatic changes that AI could bring to the blockchain world.
I look forward to seeing Tomasz continue to do exciting work both inside and outside of Ethereum.
