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Tomasz Stanczak is stepping down as co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation at the end of February 2026 to focus on decentralised AI and agentic technologies built on Ethereum, with Bastian Aue named as his replacement alongside continuing co-director Hsiao-Wei Wang.
The announcement, made Saturday via Stanczak’s post on , outlines a leadership change that keeps continuity in place while marking a strategic pivot toward emerging technologies within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Stanczak clarified that although he is leaving his executive post, he is not exiting Ethereum. Instead, he will transition into a more technical, builder-focused role within the broader network — a move that adds a new dimension to the ongoing Ethereum foundation leadership evolution.
The Ethereum foundation leadership shift will see existing co-executive director Hsiao-Wei remain in position, joined by Bastian Aue, who steps in as a new co-executive director. According to Stanczak, this blend of established and new leadership is designed to ensure operational stability and sustained progress.
“Effective end of February 2026, I would cease to function in my capacity as co-executive director,” — Tomasz Stanczak, Co-Executive Director, Ethereum Foundation.
Stanczak emphasized that the Ethereum foundation leadership structure remains strong and capable of maintaining momentum. Addressing speculation surrounding internal instability, he dismissed suggestions that the foundation was in disarray, assuring community members that sufficient talent and institutional continuity are in place.
“His stepping down will not affect the Ethereum Foundation, as leadership will continue under Hsiao-Wei and Bastian Aue,” — Tomasz Stanczak, Co-Executive Director, Ethereum Foundation.
The Ethereum foundation leadership continuity mirrors a previous high-profile change. In April 2025, Ethereum co-founder also stepped back from a formal leadership role within the foundation to focus on research and exploration for the network.
At the time, Stanczak explained that Buterin’s decision was part of a broader effort to concentrate on long-term innovation rather than executive management.
While the Ethereum foundation leadership structure adjusts at the executive level, Stanczak’s departure signals a strategic emphasis on emerging sectors — particularly decentralized artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Stanczak stated that he intends to focus on building within what he describes as the “agentic Ethereum technologies ecosystem.” He expressed confidence that Ethereum will evolve beyond its role as a smart contracts platform into a coordination layer for the agentic economy.
He argued that Ethereum can serve as the identity, payment, and verification layer for AI-driven agents, positioning the blockchain as foundational infrastructure for an increasingly autonomous financial future. According to Stanczak, Ethereum’s privacy and security capabilities make it well suited to underpin AI systems that require trusted settlement mechanisms.
This narrative aligns with broader industry conversations around decentralized AI and blockchain interoperability. Stanczak has actively promoted what he describes as a “decentralized AI on Ethereum” framework, suggesting that the network can function as the trust layer while AI systems handle decision-making processes.
The Ethereum foundation leadership shift, therefore, does not represent a withdrawal but rather a redistribution of roles. Executive governance remains intact while technical development in AI-integrated blockchain systems gains renewed focus.
Within the Ethereum community, responses to the Ethereum foundation leadership change have been largely supportive. One user publicly credited Stanczak with transforming the foundation in a short period, noting that his operational impact demonstrated his strengths as a builder in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Stanczak’s tenure, though relatively brief, coincided with broader structural changes in Ethereum governance and ongoing ecosystem expansion. The foundation continues to operate as a central steward of the network’s development, funding, and research initiatives.
The addition of Bastian Aue to the Ethereum foundation leadership team introduces new executive oversight while preserving continuity through Hsiao-Wei’s ongoing role. This structure aims to minimize disruption at a time when Ethereum faces increasing competition and rapid technological shifts across blockchain and AI sectors.
Importantly, the foundation has framed the transition as part of a natural organizational evolution rather than a crisis-driven reshuffle. By reaffirming stability and emphasizing forward-looking development priorities, the Ethereum foundation leadership appears focused on balancing governance with innovation.
As February draws to a close, the Ethereum foundation leadership transition marks another chapter in the network’s maturation. With Stanczak moving deeper into technical development and AI coordination initiatives, and with new executive oversight taking hold, Ethereum’s institutional framework continues to adapt alongside the expanding ambitions of the blockchain ecosystem.
