The Ethereum Foundation announced that Wang Xiaowei, co-executive director and board member, has resigned. She stated that a recent sabbatical allowed her to refocus her life and led to her decision to leave the organization at this time. This change comes amidst a recent reshuffling of the foundation's management team.
The decision to leave stemmed from reflection after taking a leave of absence.
In her public statement, Wang Xiaowei said that the leave of absence gave her space to rethink her priorities and made her clearer about the kind of life she hopes to build next. She stated that, as time goes by, she believes now is the right time to step down.
She recalled that she is not only proud of the work within the foundation, but also values the broader ecosystem of co-builders, including developers, researchers, educators, node operators, validators, and users. She believes that the continuation of Ethereum does not depend on a single position or a single organization.
Buterin posted a message of thanks.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin subsequently posted a message acknowledging Wang Xiaowei's long-term commitment to the ecosystem over the past decade. He mentioned that Wang Xiaowei had previously promoted the development of the local Ethereum community in Taipei, and her related activities and community work left a deep impression on him.
Buterin also stated that the Ethereum Foundation management team has faced significant pressure over the past year. He noted that Wang Xiaowei and Tomasz Stańczak proactively assumed leadership responsibilities during a challenging period, a role inherently demanding.
The foundation has undergone several high-level personnel changes this year.
Wang Xiaowei's departure is not the only significant personnel change at the Ethereum Foundation recently. According to the article, another co-executive director, Tomasz Stańczak, stepped down in February of this year.
This means that the Ethereum Foundation has experienced a series of high-level personnel changes in a short period of time. For the Ethereum ecosystem, such personnel changes usually raise concerns about the foundation's organizational stability, governance pace, and future work arrangements.
