- Skale Labs’ Stan Kladko resigned as CTO in protest of Skale Foundation’s exclusion of builders from its board.
- Many people questioned how the now-former CTO’s proposal would revive what they consider a ghost chain.
Skale Network (SKALE), a blockchain platform designed to tackle scalability and privacy challenges for decentralized applications (dApps) and agentic AI systems, is facing growing internal tensions following a recent security incident involving its Interchain Messaging Agent (IMA) Bridge. Adding to the network’s difficulties, Stan Kladko, co-founder of Skale Labs—the organization responsible for core technical development—has stepped down from his position as Chief Technology Officer in what appears to be a principled protest against the current governance structure.
Exclusion of Builders in Skale Foundation’s Board
On Sunday, Stan Kladko announced his resignation as CTO, clarifying that while he is leaving his executive role, he will retain his seat on the Skale Foundation, a Liechtenstein-based nonprofit responsible for safeguarding the long-term vision and operational roadmap of the Skale Network.
Kladko expressed frustration regarding the composition of the foundation’s board, specifically criticizing the lack of representation from active developers and engineers who are directly involved in maintaining and evolving the protocol. He called upon the Skale community to take action and voice their concerns about the current state of governance.
As co-founder and former CTO, Kladko emphasized that the success of the Skale protocol has always depended on a dedicated group of engineers who have not only built the system but have also maintained its stability through continuous debugging and improvements. Despite this crucial contribution, none of these key individuals currently hold seats on the foundation’s board.
He argued that excluding those with hands-on technical expertise from strategic decision-making could lead to misaligned priorities and potential drift from the network’s original objectives. Citing examples such as Ethereum and Cosmos, where engineers play central roles in guiding long-term development, Kladko warned that similar oversight is essential for Skale’s continued relevance and technical integrity.
The Co-Founder’s Proposal
In response to the ongoing governance concerns, Kladko formally proposed expanding the Skale Foundation board by adding three new seats designated for individuals with strong backgrounds in software engineering and blockchain protocol development. He confirmed that the recommendation has been officially submitted and indicated plans to provide updates as discussions progress.
Kladko also encouraged the broader Skale ecosystem—including validators, delegators, dApp developers, and token holders—to publicly share their perspectives on the matter, underscoring the importance of inclusive dialogue in shaping the future direction of the network.
Criticism of Skale Network’s Trajectory
While affirming his continued commitment to building on Skale, Kladko acknowledged that some in the community have raised doubts about whether a simple board restructuring could reinvigorate a project widely perceived as stagnant. Launched seven years ago, the network has seen its native SKALE token depreciate by over 99% from its all-time high of $1.22 in 2021.
Rather than being disheartened, Kladko welcomed the criticism, saying it reinforces his resolve to push for meaningful change and renewed momentum within the Skale ecosystem. He remains optimistic about revitalizing interest and activity across the network through both structural reforms and persistent innovation.
