Ethereum Foundation Rebrands Core Team as ‘Protocol’ in Major Restructuring Shift

• Ethereum Foundation renames core team to Protocol to improve focus and teamwork.
• The Protocol division has three teams to scale Layer 1, improve data, and enhance user experience.
• Some developers leave as Foundation shifts to DeFi treasury and streamlined development.

The Ethereum Foundation has renamed its core development unit to “Protocol” in a structural shakeup announced Monday. The decision comes as part of a broader realignment of internal operations, which includes the exit of several R&D team members.

The restructuring focuses on making Ethereum’s development process more efficient. It aims to tighten collaboration between research, prototyping, and production. The Foundation said it seeks to address ongoing delays and coordination issues affecting protocol updates.

Three Core Areas Receive Dedicated Teams

The new Protocol division will now focus on three specific areas. These include scaling Layer 1 of the blockchain, expanding blob data capacity, and improving user experience. Each of these efforts will operate under separate leadership for better execution and accountability.

Tim Beiko and Ansgar Dietrichs will lead Layer 1 scaling. Blob scaling will be managed by Alex Stokes and Francesco D’Amato. Barnabé Monnot and Josh Rudolf will head user experience improvements. All three teams will receive support from Dankrad Feist, who will serve as a strategic advisor.

Feist is known for his role in Ethereum’s Danksharding project. Last year, he faced criticism over a conflict of interest involving token incentives from EigenLayer. The Foundation has since promised to enforce formal conduct policies across its ranks.

Recent Upgrades and Technical Goals

The Ethereum network recently activated the Pectra upgrade . It improved transaction speeds, staking operations, and the overall wallet interface. Pectra marked Ethereum’s largest upgrade since the Merge and Dencun events.

The next major update, Fusaka, is expected later this year. Fusaka will introduce PeerDAS, or Peer Data Availability Sampling. This feature is key to Ethereum’s long-term scaling roadmap and will support broader ecosystem usage.

Financial Strategy and Developer Exits

In addition to technical changes, the Foundation has altered its treasury strategy. It now invests in DeFi protocols such as Aave, Spark, and Compound. This method allows it to earn sustainable yields without selling ETH directly.

Some developers will not continue with the Protocol team following the restructure. The Foundation has encouraged other Ethereum projects to consider hiring those affected. The goal is to maintain talent within the ecosystem.

The restructuring reflects Ethereum’s effort to align its technical and operational roadmap with growing global demand. It seeks to keep the blockchain scalable, secure, and responsive to user needs.