Hsiao-Wei Wang is stepping down as CEO and board member of the Ethereum Foundation (EF), effective immediately. He’s the second big player to exit a top leadership position by 2026.

After a long sabbatical, Wang mentioned that his time away from the organization made him reassess his priorities. He plans to stay involved in the broader Ethereum (ETH) ecosystem and push for its growth from outside the organization.

Nine years at the core of the Foundation

Wang joined the EF's research team in 2017 and became the second CEO in April 2025. He was involved in several major protocol upgrades for nearly a decade, including Beacon Chain, The Merge, Shapella, and Dencun.

.@hwwonx has been a steadfast contributor to the Ethereum ecosystem for a decade. I still remember her early days in the Ethereum research community, first outside the Foundation and then inside it, and the thought and care she put into making Ethereum research and consensus work…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 18, 2026

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin commented on X, calling Wang a well-established influencer in the ecosystem during his decade at the foundation. He noted that Wang handled the foundation's co-leadership with skill and sensitivity during the most challenging times.

Her departure follows the exit of former co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak at the end of February. After that, Bastian Aue took on the interim co-lead role. The Ethereum Foundation introduced new leadership structures at the beginning of 2026 in response to pressures from the developer community.

Eight departures from the Ethereum Foundation raise questions.

Wang's departure is the latest in a growing phenomenon. At least eight senior-level researchers and leaders have left the EF since January. As a result, these departures have raised questions about EF's governance and strategic direction.

Questions related to the Ethereum Foundation's leadership have surged throughout 2026. Criticism has been directed at the slow decision-making regarding protocol changes and a lack of long-term direction. As a result, the EF revamped its core team earlier this year to address these pressures.

At the same time, the foundation has been attempting to respond in various ways. It announced a broader leadership change to better meet community expectations. Additionally, Vitalik signaled a reduction in EF's influence as part of an effort toward more decentralized governance.

Departures, however, have continued. The EF is now entering a transition phase with a completely revamped leadership team.

In his farewell message, Wang urged the international community to independently propel Ethereum forward. He encouraged developers and other influencers around the world to take responsibility for the network's future. He described his departure as a shift in focus, not a withdrawal from the ecosystem.

It remains unclear whether the revamped leadership will restore internal stability. Potential new departures could continue to challenge the organization's standing in the eyes of developers and researchers in the coming months.