The departures also come as the foundation has unveiled a new strategic framework known as “CROPS,” an acronym that stands for cypherpunk values, resilience, open source development, permissionlessness and security. Fund managers presented the framework as a way to clarify the EC’s mission and reinforce Ethereum’s core values as the ecosystem becomes increasingly decentralized. Supporters viewed it as an affirmation of Ethereum’s fundamental principles, while critics argued that it did little to address concerns about execution, organizational efficiency, and the network’s competitive position.
Among the most vocal critics was former Ethereum researcher Dankrad Feist, who suggested that the recent wave of management departures reflected deeper management issues rather than disagreements over strategy.
“The people leaving the Ethereum Foundation are CROPS believers,” Feist wrote on X. “The problem isn’t with the strategy, it’s with the leadership.”
Feist’s comments were notable because they challenged the prevailing idea that the recent departures were due to dissatisfaction with the foundation’s new direction. Instead, he argued that many of those who left supported the CROPS vision itself, making the loss of talent a reflection of management shortcomings rather than ideological differences. “The exodus of talent is really bearish for Ethereum, unfortunately,” he added.
Other members of the community voiced concerns about the foundation’s internal dynamics. “It saddens me to see the dysfunction of the Ethereum Foundation,” Coinbase Chief Engineer Yuga Cohler wrote on X.
