Per Woofun AI, the Ethereum Foundation has disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 20% as part of an ongoing organizational restructuring. This significant contraction aligns with the 'Lean Ethereum' strategic initiative, which aims to redefine the Foundation's role by 2026. Rather than serving as a primary core developer, the organization intends to reposition itself as a streamlined protocol governance and maintenance entity.

This latest adjustment builds upon the Research and Development (PR&D) reorganization executed in 2025, which saw headcount drop from over 110 to below 100. The current phase follows the previous dismissal of roughly 19 employees and the subsequent exit of several senior researchers, marking a continued effort to optimize operational efficiency within the ecosystem.