A prominent Ethereum developer has proposed creating a $1 billion organization funded with ether, led by someone the developer says 'wants to fight.' The pitch landed on Thursday, the same day former Ethereum Foundation researcher Dankrad Feist fired pointed criticism at Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin — a one-two punch that rattled the ecosystem.
The $1 billion plan
The developer, whose identity hasn't been disclosed publicly, floated the idea of a dedicated entity backed by a hefty ETH treasury. The proposed organization would be run by a leader described as combative — someone explicitly 'who wants to fight,' per the developer's post. Backers would pool roughly 300,000 ETH at current prices to bankroll the initiative.
Few details have emerged about how the fund would operate or what battles it intends to pick. The proposal comes as Ethereum faces growing competition from faster chains and mounting criticism over its governance and fee structure.
Feist's broadside
Dankrad Feist, a well-known researcher who left the Ethereum Foundation earlier this year, didn't hold back in his remarks aimed at Buterin. The exact content of his critique wasn't immediately available, but sources described it as a series of sharp, pointed observations about Buterin's recent public statements and strategic direction for Ethereum.
Feist has been increasingly vocal about what he sees as missteps by Ethereum's leadership. Thursday's comments are the most direct public conflict between a former core insider and the co-founder since the network's transition to proof-of-stake.
The timing isn't great. The $1 billion proposal already has the community debating whether a centralized war chest is the right move. Feist's salvo adds a layer of personal friction that could complicate any attempt to rally support.
Neither Buterin nor the Ethereum Foundation has responded publicly. The developer behind the proposal hasn't released a formal whitepaper or timeline. The community is left to parse two conflicting signals: a call for aggressive funding and a public fracture among the network's most respected voices.
