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In this week’s Protocol Newsletter, we explore the launch of EthLabs and why it arrives at a moment of significant change for the Ethereum ecosystem.
EthLabs, a new nonprofit research organization, has rejected claims that it aims to replace the Ethereum Foundation. Instead, its founders—many of them former Foundation contributors—say it reflects a broader shift, as the Foundation narrows its focus and independent groups step in to support adoption and development.
Still, the timing has drawn attention.
EthLabs went public just one day before layoffs at the Ethereum Foundation and shortly after co-executive director Hsiao-Wei Wang announced her resignation. These developments add to a wave of departures, with at least nine senior figures leaving since January as the Foundation undergoes a strategic reset.
For some observers, this turnover raises questions about the Foundation’s future role and whether Ethereum’s governance is entering a new phase. EthLabs executive director Ansgar Dietrichs says that transition is exactly what prompted the initiative.
“We didn’t see others stepping in,” Dietrichs said. “At some point, we realized it had to be us.”
Dietrichs and four other former Foundation researchers and developers—some of whom exited earlier this year—launched EthLabs to advance Ethereum’s technical roadmap with a stronger focus on real-world use.
He describes Ethereum as entering a new era. After a decade of building core infrastructure—from smart contracts and DeFi to scaling and layer-2 networks—the priority is shifting toward institutional adoption and large-scale financial applications.
Dietrichs also argues the ecosystem has moved beyond its earlier boom-and-bust cycles, signaling a more mature phase centered on practical deployment.
Filling the gaps
The Ethereum Foundation’s evolution is part of this shift. Earlier this year, it outlined a renewed mandate focused on core principles like neutrality and open infrastructure, while stepping back from more implementation-heavy roles. Budget pressures have also contributed to internal restructuring.
Dietrichs sees EthLabs as complementary, not competitive.
“We’re focusing on the areas the Foundation is intentionally leaving open,” he said.
Those areas include adoption-driven engineering work—improving scalability, strengthening layer-1 performance, enhancing interoperability, and addressing technical barriers to institutional use.
EthLabs plans to build on prior research led by its founders, while expanding into interoperability and engagement with financial institutions exploring blockchain systems.
Structured as a nonprofit, the group emphasizes that its sole mission is supporting Ethereum’s long-term success. “We’re here to help Ethereum—nothing else,” Dietrichs said.
A broader reset
Beyond technical development, Dietrichs believes Ethereum needs a clearer narrative for its next phase.
“Ten years ago, the vision was obvious,” he said. “Today, it’s less defined.”
He sees Ethereum potentially playing a central role in a global financial system moving onchain, but acknowledges that EthLabs must prove itself—both in securing funding and influencing the ecosystem from outside the Foundation.
Its launch, however, reflects a broader trend: a redistribution of responsibilities. The Ethereum Foundation is increasingly focused on stewarding core values, while independent organizations like EthLabs take on the work of driving adoption and real-world implementation.
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