The Ethereum Foundation lost five senior contributors and saw three others shift to part-time roles between February and May 2026. The departures include co-Executive Director Tomasz Stańczak's February exit after the shortest tenure on record and Trent Van Epps' public criticism of the foundation's Milady NFT association. The moves coincide with the foundation's March release of a 38-page mandate defining its core principles, leaving leadership gaps unfilled.
Departure Timeline
Stańczak stepped down as co-Executive Director on February 13, 2026, after just 11 months. His exit was followed by Josh Stark's April 16 announcement that he was leaving to "take a long break to reset and spend time with family." Stark's role ended at month's end. Van Epps departed on April 10, remaining active in the ecosystem via Protocol Guild. The foundation also saw five other senior contributors step back from full-time roles during the February-May period, plus three personnel changes including sabbaticals. Dankrad Feist had already transitioned to part-time in October 2025 while joining competing L1 Tempo as an advisor—a first for senior Ethereum researchers.
Mandate and the CROPS Framework
The foundation published its 38-page 'Mandate' document on March 13, 2026, cementing CROPS—censorship resistance, open source, privacy, security—as its core framework. The document notably referenced the 'Source Seppuku License,' a pre-existing satirical internet license not created by the foundation. It was included as symbolic illustration, not policy. The mandate arrived while the foundation processed multiple role changes, creating visible tension between stated principles and leadership stability.
Milady NFT Controversy
Van Epps' exit carried rare insider criticism. He publicly called the foundation leadership's association with the Milady NFT collection "baffling and sad" around his April 10 departure. His comment highlighted growing friction over non-technical community decisions. The foundation hasn't addressed the criticism, though the Mandate's emphasis on censorship resistance appears at odds with the NFT controversy. Stark's departure for personal reasons further complicated the leadership vacuum.
The foundation has not named replacements for the vacant roles. Their absence leaves key decision-making positions open as Ethereum developers prepare for major protocol upgrades later this year.
