Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation on Friday, effective immediately. She's the second person to leave the top leadership job this year, following Tomasz Stańczak, who stepped down in late February. Wang's exit comes as the foundation has lost at least eight senior researchers and executives since January 2026.
Why Wang left
Wang took an extended sabbatical and reassessed her priorities before deciding to resign. She joined the EF research team in 2017 and became co-executive director in April 2025. During her tenure, she contributed to major protocol upgrades — Beacon Chain, The Merge, Shapella, and Dencun. In a statement, she said she plans to remain part of the broader Ethereum ecosystem and contribute from outside the organization.
Pressure on the foundation
The Ethereum Foundation introduced new leadership arrangements in early 2026, responding to developer community pressure. After Stańczak's departure, Bastian Aue took on an interim co-director role. But critics have pointed to the pace of protocol decisions and an absence of long-term direction at the EF. The foundation restructured its core team earlier this year to address governance concerns.
Buterin's take
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin praised Wang on X, calling her a steadfast contributor. He has also signaled a reduction in EF influence as part of a push toward decentralized oversight. Whether the restructured leadership restores internal stability remains an open question. Further departures could test the organization's standing in the community.
