Ethereum Foundation Shakes Up Leadership Team

Ethereum Foundation announces Tomasz Stańczak’s departure as Co-Executive Director, with Bastian Aue stepping in as interim replacement effective immediately.

The Ethereum Foundation revealed a major shift in executive leadership this week. Tomasz Stańczak is stepping down from his co-Executive Director position. The board appointed Bastian Aue as interim co-ED effective immediately.

According to the Ethereum Foundation on X, the transition happened after what they called extensive contributions. Stańczak’s last day falls at the end of February 2026. Aue will work alongside Hsiao-Wei Wang in the co-ED role.

Aue Steps Into Interim Role

Bastian Aue has been part of the executive team already. His background includes grants, enterprise relations, and operations. The foundation said his organizational knowledge proved invaluable for this moment.

@tkstanczak announced the news on X himself. “The future is bright for builders, for Ethereum, for the EF, and for me,” he wrote. A longer blog post explained his reasoning behind the decision.

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Stańczak joined during a critical growth phase. The foundation credited him with expanding their reach to diverse community groups. Enterprise community development saw significant expansion under his watch.

He brought urgency to the organization. Teams started working more efficiently because of his focus. The foundation achieved a remarkable range of milestones in a short period.

@VitalikButerin praised Stańczak’s work ethic on X. “Tomasz has always impressed me,” Buterin stated in his post. His unique personality and the organization he built at Nethermind stood out.

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Stańczak’s perspective on blockchains was creative and different. Buterin said it differed from what anyone else in crypto discourse was saying. That fresh thinking added value to foundation discussions.

The co-ED role lasted approximately one year for Stańczak. His strategic guidance helped the foundation understand ecosystem businesses more deeply. They became more responsive to the outside world during his tenure.

Aue participated in decision-making alongside both co-EDs previously. The board expressed confidence in his ability moving forward. His focus areas included grants and enterprise work before this.

Stańczak promised to answer questions at ETHDenver over the coming days. Podcasts and AMAs will provide more details about the transition. The foundation thanked him for his service and dedication.

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Buterin mentioned Stańczak helped increase efficiency across many foundation parts. The organization does things well outside its previous comfort zone now. Fresh energy entered because of his encouragement and support.

The foundation described this as a transitional moment for reflection. Core development operates more efficiently than ever before. The community has grown larger during this period of change.

Foundation Eyes Future Under New Structure

Stańczak brought fresh thinking about AI’s potential impact on blockchain. He pushed leadership to consider radical changes that might come. His Nethermind background shaped a different organizational approach than others had.

The Ethereum Foundation remains committed to supporting development across technical layers. Social layer growth continues to be a priority. Values that define Ethereum will be stewarded under the new leadership structure.

Aue’s organizational knowledge of the EF’s unique structure matters now. The foundation needs stability while continuing to move forward. His experience within EF management spans a significant period already.

The board’s statement emphasized the work ahead despite leadership changes. Development teams function efficiently after recent organizational improvements. This moment represents both an ending and a beginning for them.

Stańczak’s departure timeline is set for late Feb. 2026. Bastian Aue took over the interim co-ED role immediately per the announcement. The foundation posted details on its official blog on February 13.