The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has restructured its core research and development arm, rebranding it simply as "Protocol" to align with three strategic goals: scaling Layer 1 (L1), scaling blobs, and improving user experience (UX). This organizational shift, introduced in June, aims to enhance focus and accelerate Ethereum's technical evolution. Tim Beiko, a prominent figure within the Ethereum ecosystem, recently provided an update on the progress of the L1 scaling track, stating, "> In June, we introduced Protocol: a new structure to align the EF around our three strategic goals — Scale L1, Scale Blobs, Improve UX — without compromising on hardness or security. Here's an update on the first track, Scale L1."
The restructuring comes amidst growing community pressure and internal discussions regarding the pace of Ethereum's technical advancements and the need for clearer priorities. The former "Protocol Research & Development" division was streamlined, with some staff layoffs occurring as part of the realignment to create a more responsive and effective development path. This move signals a strategic pivot from a more exploratory "science lab" approach to a delivery-focused platform.
The newly formed "Protocol" division serves as the central hub for Ethereum's core development efforts, with each strategic goal mapped to a dedicated initiative. Scaling L1 aims to increase the mainnet's capacity, while scaling blobs focuses on expanding data availability for rollups, a crucial element for improving network efficiency. User experience improvements are designed to make Ethereum more accessible and intuitive for a broader audience.
A key immediate objective for the L1 scaling track is to safely increase Ethereum's mainnet gas limit to 100 million per block. This initiative is being driven by figures such as Tim Beiko and Ansgar Dietrichs, with Marius van der Wijden contributing extensive engineering experience. Efforts include improving benchmarking infrastructure and repricing operations to ensure consistent block execution times, which are vital for further gas limit increases.
The organizational changes extend beyond the "Protocol" division, reflecting a broader leadership overhaul within the Ethereum Foundation. Hsiao-Wei Weng and Tomasz Stańczak were appointed as co-executive directors, with Aya Miyaguchi transitioning to the role of President. This dual-executive model aims to enhance governance efficiency and technical coordination, balancing the Foundation's technical vision with practical operational execution.
The Ethereum Foundation views 2025-2026 as "pivotal years" for the network, with the new structure designed to empower internal teams and drive key initiatives forward. This strategic shift underscores the Foundation's commitment to reinforcing Ethereum's position as a leading blockchain platform, ensuring its long-term relevance and capacity for mass adoption.