Hsiao-Wei Wang has resigned as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation, effective June 18, 2026. Her departure follows that of fellow co-director Tomasz Stańczak and is part of a broader trend of senior leadership exits.
The repeated departures of senior leadership at the Ethereum Foundation raise questions about the organization's stability, governance, and strategic direction at a critical time for the Ethereum network, which faces increasing competition from rival blockchains.
Hsiao-Wei Wang has resigned as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation, effective June 18, 2026. Her departure follows a period of personal reflection after a sabbatical and marks the latest in a string of high-profile exits from the organization. Wang's resignation comes just months after her counterpart, Tomasz Stańczak, who also held the co-executive director position, stepped down.
The Ethereum Foundation has experienced significant turnover in 2026, with approximately 19 staff departures and layoffs, including at least eight senior-level individuals within the last five months. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin acknowledged the demanding nature of Wang's role, calling it "the most challenging position" within the foundation. Board member Bastian Aue has taken on interim responsibilities to manage the leadership restructuring, having previously assisted during Wang's sabbatical.
These successive exits have prompted scrutiny from the Ethereum community regarding the foundation's governance, strategic direction, and ability to retain top talent amidst increasing competition from other blockchain platforms. In response to criticism, Buterin has previously emphasized the foundation's role as one node among many, with a defined purpose, and highlighted the protocol's objective to meet a "walkaway test" demonstrating its resilience independent of the foundation.
Wang, who contributed to key Ethereum developments like the Beacon Chain, The Merge, Shapella, and Dencun during her roughly seven years at the foundation, framed Ethereum's significance as being larger than any single role or organization.