Ethereum Foundation CEO Steps Down Amid Leadership Reshuffle

• Aya Miyaguchi leaves Ethereum Foundation CEO position to become board chair, focusing on global partnerships.
• Vitalik Buterin cites governance refresh restructuring aligns Miyaguchi’s chair role with long-term institutional strategy.

Aya Miyaguchi will transition from her role as CEO of the Ethereum Foundation to become its board chair, according to a public statement released on July 15. Miyaguchi confirmed she will retain responsibility for institutional partnerships, focusing on expanding the foundation’s global influence. This follows internal discussions about restructuring leadership roles to align with long-term goals.

Aya first shared the idea of transitioning from ED of @ethereumfndn to President a year ago.

She has accomplished much in her seven years as executive director of the EF. As I see it, the role of an ED is to create an environment where others can shine and do their best work,…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 25, 2025

Vitalik Buterin described the shift as part of a broader effort to “refresh governance structures.” He emphasized Miyaguchi’s continued involvement in strategic decisions but did not name her successor. The foundation has not disclosed timelines for appointing a new CEO, though sources indicate an external candidate is under consideration.

Criticism from Ethereum community members surfaced following the announcement. Several developers and validators cited unresolved scalability challenges and perceived delays in addressing network congestion. One pseudonymous contributor stated, “Leadership changes won’t fix transaction bottlenecks without clear technical roadmaps.”

Miyaguchi’s tenure as CEO began in 2018, during which she prioritized regulatory engagement and academic collaborations. Her new role will involve coordinating with governments and enterprises to promote Ethereum-based infrastructure. ETHNews analysts speculate the reorganization aims to decentralize decision-making ahead of planned protocol upgrades.