Former Ethereum Foundation leader Trent Van Epps has raised concerns about potential funding shortfalls as the organization undergoes a significant shift in governance structure.
Speaking on CoinDesk’s Markets Outlook with Jennifer Sanasie, Van Epps described his departure as inevitable once it became clear the Ethereum Foundation would intensify its “subtraction” philosophy — strategically reducing its central role to allow broader ecosystem institutions to take greater responsibility.
“The Foundation is intentionally pulling back rather than consolidating power,” Van Epps explained. “Multiple independent organizations should eventually coordinate the ecosystem.”
His comments come amid recent leadership changes and workforce reductions at the Ethereum Foundation, which have sparked questions about the future direction of the network’s governance.
Van Epps emphasized that Ethereum faces a practical funding challenge rather than an existential crisis. He estimates that core protocol development requires approximately $30 million annually, even as the Foundation’s treasury gradually declines over time.
The key issue, according to Van Epps, is not reduced technical needs but identifying new organizations capable of financing public goods essential for maintaining network reliability and security.
His Protocol Guild initiative has distributed nearly $40 million to Ethereum core developers over roughly four years. However, he cautioned that this level of funding is insufficient to replace broader ecosystem support and that new solutions are needed to ensure continued development.
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