- Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned after eight years at the Ethereum Foundation, leaving both co-executive director roles vacant.
- Her departure marks at least eight senior exits in five months, fueling governance and leadership discussions.
- Wang contributed to major Ethereum milestones, including the Beacon Chain, The Merge, Shapella, and Dencun upgrades.
Another senior departure has hit the Ethereum Foundation as co-executive director and board member Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned effective Thursday. Wang’s exit follows fellow co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak’s departure, leaving both leadership positions vacant. The resignation also marks at least eight senior exits from the Foundation within five months, intensifying attention on governance and leadership changes.
Wang Ends Eight-Year Ethereum Foundation Tenure
Wang spent eight years at the Ethereum Foundation after joining its research team in 2017. She later became co-executive director in April 2025 during a broader leadership transition.
According to Wang, a recent sabbatical gave her time to reassess personal priorities. She announced her departure on X and said she believed it was the right moment to step away.
Her resignation follows the earlier departure of Tomasz Stańczak, who left after helping oversee a management transition. As a result, Bastian Aue has assumed a larger leadership role and now serves as interim executive director.
Series of Departures Draws Attention
Wang’s departure adds to a growing list of exits from the Switzerland-based nonprofit. According to reports, at least eight senior members have left since early 2026.
Those departures include Josh Stark, Trent Van Epps, Tim Beiko, Barnabé Monnot, Carl Beek, and Julian Ma. Several of them played key roles in Ethereum research, engineering, and ecosystem development.
Consequently, community discussions have increasingly focused on governance, spending priorities, and organizational structure. The leadership turnover has also raised questions about decision-making within the Foundation.
Community Figures Respond to Exit
Following the announcement, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised Wang’s contributions over the past decade. He highlighted her work in Ethereum research, consensus development, and community building in Taipei.
Notably, Wang contributed to major network milestones, including the Beacon Chain, The Merge, Shapella, and Dencun upgrades. She also helped establish ETHTaipei and the Taipei Seminar.
Meanwhile, Ethereum Foundation developer Marius Van Der Wijden thanked Wang for supporting protocol development during a challenging period.
In her farewell message, Wang emphasized that Ethereum extends beyond any single position, organization, or individual contributor.