Ethereum Foundation Co-Executive Director Hsiao-Wei Wang Steps Down

Wang's departure has added to a growing list of high-profile exits from the Ethereum Foundation this year.

Hsiao-Wei Wang has stepped down as the Ethereum Foundation’s co-executive director and board member following the end of her sabbatical.

Vitalik Buterin praised her role in shaping Ethereum’s research culture and building the ecosystem’s community.

Ethereum Foundation Hit By Another High-Profile Exit

Wang took to social media to announce her departure from the non-profit after a long career break that she says gave her the space to reflect on life’s priorities.

“After my sabbatical, I have decided to step down as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation effective today,” she wrote.

She revealed that Bastian Aue, another executive at the organization, had guided the transition while she was on her break. Reflecting on her time at the foundation, Wang said she was proud of what the community had achieved and credited its continued growth to the builders, researchers, educators, validators, users, and other contributors who support the network.

The EF has experienced several high-profile departures across its team this year, with senior figures like Tomasz Stańczak, Julian Ma, Carl Beek, Tim Beiko, Trent Van Epps, and Barnabé Monnot all leaving. The latest exit from the board now leaves Vitalik Buterin, Patrick Storchenegger, and Aya Miyaguchi as its remaining members.

This has led to a lot of uncertainty and speculation from the community, with some seeing the exits as evidence of internal disagreements and governance issues. But Ryan Berckmans, a long-time community figure, says people are looking at it the wrong way, and that the organization is still very committed to the network.

Meanwhile, Wang said she is still figuring out what comes next, but remains a proud member of the community. Her announcement ended with an acknowledgment of its role in driving the ecosystem forward, and a thank you to those who contributed along the way.

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Buterin Praises Wang’s Contribution

Wang assumed the co-executive director job last year alongside Stańczak, leading the organization through one of its toughest periods. Buterin acknowledged the former’s decade-long contribution to the ecosystem, noting that she has always handled her work with the utmost skill and grace.

“She handled the task skillfully and gracefully, and has constantly strived to find and insist on outcomes that are right both for the Ethereum protocol and for the human beings that build and maintain it,” he wrote.

Recalling her early days at the foundation, he praised her for helping make Ethereum’s research and consensus work more organized and accessible and for building a strong community in Taipei through people and events.