Key Ethereum researcher Josh Stark leaves the Ethereum Foundation

Josh Stark, a key researcher and project manager at the Ethereum Foundation, said Thursday that he is departing the organization after five years. Stark did not provide a specific reason for his departure and said in a post on X that he has “no plans for the future.” Instead, he said he will take personal time to focus on family and friends, adding that the Ethereum ecosystem has “reliably done things the world told us were impossible,” including launching despite early fear and doubt, enabling decentralized finance (DeFi), and shipping Proof of Stake.

Stark is one of four people listed as “Management” on an organizational chart showing nearly all of the Foundation’s staff reporting in. Cointelegraph reached out to Stark about his departure but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

High-profile exit amid recent Foundation shakeups

Stark’s departure is described as the most high-profile exit from the Ethereum Foundation since Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced sweeping leadership changes and a new direction for the Foundation in 2025. A day earlier, another Foundation contributor, Trent Van Epps, announced that he resigned last week.

What changed at the Ethereum Foundation in 2025

In January 2025, Buterin announced sweeping changes to the Ethereum Foundation in response to growing criticism from the Ethereum community about the ecosystem’s long-term direction. Among the goals he listed were bringing in “fresh” talent, increasing decentralization, and developing the protocol for faster transaction throughput and higher transaction speeds.

Buterin also said the revamped Foundation would not engage in ideological disputes, lobby US lawmakers in Washington, or represent “vested interests,” adding that people seeking a different vision are welcome to start their own organizations.

Leadership updates and current management structure

The Ethereum Foundation officially announced new leadership in March 2025, naming Hsiao-Wei Wang, an Ethereum Foundation researcher, and Tomasz Stańczak, CEO of Nethermind, as co-directors of the organization.

Stańczak stepped down from his role in February 2026, while Wang remains a member of the Ethereum Foundation’s management board, according to the organization’s chart.

Impact and context

Stark’s exit adds to a period of leadership and personnel changes at the Ethereum Foundation following Buterin’s 2025 restructuring efforts. The article notes that Stark did not specify a reason for leaving and indicated he has no plans for the future at this time.