Josh Stark, a senior researcher and project manager at the Ethereum Foundation, announced Thursday that he is leaving the organization after five years. In a post on X, Stark said he has “no plans for the future” and will take personal time to focus on family and friends. He reflected on Ethereum’s progress, noting how the ecosystem achieved milestones many thought impossible, from launch to DeFi and the shift to Proof of Stake.
Stark is listed among four people in the Foundation’s “Management” on its organizational chart, which shows nearly all staff reporting in. Cointelegraph contacted Stark about his departure but had not received a response by publication.
His exit is the most prominent from the Foundation since co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced major leadership changes and a new direction for the organization in 2025. A day earlier, contributor Trent Van Epps posted that he resigned the prior week.
Buterin’s 2025 shakeup aimed to bring fresh talent, greater decentralization and development priorities focused on faster transaction throughput. He also said the Foundation would not engage in ideological disputes, lobby lawmakers or represent vested interests, advising those seeking a different vision to start their own organizations.
The Foundation announced new leadership in March 2025, adding Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak as co-directors. Stańczak stepped down in February 2026; Wang remains on the management board according to the Foundation’s chart.
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