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Josh Stark has resigned from the Ethereum Foundation (EF) after five years, citing personal reasons and saying he will take time off. His departure is the latest in a series of high-profile exits that have renewed concerns about leadership turnover within the Swiss-based non-profit.
Stark, described as a key leader, core member, and executive at the EF, announced his resignation after five years of service. Reports indicate he is among four senior members of the EF leadership team, with much of the staff reporting to this group.
In a post on X, Stark did not provide a detailed explanation for the resignation. Instead, he said he had not formulated any future objectives and that he is taking a break to spend time with family and friends. When journalists sought further clarification, he declined to comment.
Stark also reflected on Ethereum’s progress, saying the ecosystem has achieved outcomes that many once considered impossible, including the launch of Ethereum, the success of decentralized finance (DeFi), and the implementation of Proof of Stake.
Stark’s exit comes as the broader Ethereum ecosystem faces questions about leadership stability. Earlier, Danny Ryan, a researcher at the EF, submitted a proposal dated November 2024 to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin outlining a significant transformation for the network. Ryan had served in the EF organization for seven years.
In the proposal, Ryan argued that, given Ethereum’s maturity and the wider crypto industry, the EF could adopt a more assertive voice while maintaining its commitment to decentralization. He also indicated he was prepared to lead the movement if selected as the new executive director. When asked about the proposal, Ryan said it was influenced by the speed of political change.
Separately, sources familiar with the matter said Ryan’s ideas were partly influenced by a brief SEC legal action in March 2024, which was dropped shortly after it began.
Some individuals expressed optimism after Donald Trump took office for his second term as US president, arguing he could better integrate the crypto industry with traditional finance. The resulting shift in political and economic conditions, according to reports, suggested the EF may need a stronger voice to support Ethereum, including considerations around attracting Wall Street.
Reports said Stark’s resignation is among the most significant since Buterin publicly disclosed major leadership changes and a new strategic direction for the foundation last year.
Trent Van Epps, an organizer of Protocol Guild and an EF member, announced his resignation on April 16, the same day as Stark. Another senior executive, Tomasz Stańczak, resigned from his co-executive director role at the end of February.
Stark joined the Ethereum Foundation in 2019, initially working on a special projects team. He later took on a leadership role working alongside Aya Miyaguchi, the EF president, and Buterin.
Among the projects Stark contributed to were “The Merge,” the upgrade that transitioned Ethereum from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, as well as oversight of upgrades such as Pectra.
Alongside the leadership concerns, Buterin—an early investor in prediction market platform Polymarket—shared a warning on X at the end of last month that prediction markets could devolve into “corposlop,” becoming addictive, low-quality gambling apps.
Buterin said he was concerned about an excessive focus on high-dopamine activities such as sports betting and quick crypto bets, which he argued can drive engagement while offering limited substantive social or economic value. He also said high income from gambling during difficult periods can pressure teams to follow the same trends, even if the motivation is understandable.
“There’s nothing inherently wrong with earning money from people who make poor decisions, but relying too heavily on that approach is problematic,” Buterin said.
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