ETHLabs Emerges as Former EF Researchers Start New Venture

TLDR

• ETHLabs launched as a new Ethereum-focused nonprofit led by five former Ethereum Foundation researchers.
• BitMine, SharpLink, and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin joined the initiative as anchor funders.
• ETHLabs aims to support Ethereum’s growth as a global financial settlement layer.
• The organization plans to connect application developers with Ethereum’s core protocol teams.
• More than 50 individuals and organizations, including Coinbase, Polygon, and Uniswap representatives, support the project.

A new Ethereum-focused nonprofit has launched with support from BitMine, SharpLink, and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin. The organization, called ETHLabs, aims to accelerate Ethereum’s use as a global financial settlement layer. The launch comes as the Ethereum Foundation shifts toward a smaller role and encourages independent groups to expand research and development efforts across the ecosystem.

ETHLabs Launches With Support From Major Ethereum Backers

ETHLabs announced its formation on June 22 through a post on X. The nonprofit was founded by five former Ethereum Foundation researchers and developers. The group said it aims to help make Ethereum the settlement layer of the global economy.

The organization plans to work between application developers and Ethereum’s core protocol teams. It will focus on standards, infrastructure, and coordination. ETHLabs said it wants to connect real-world needs with technical development efforts.

Julian Ma, one of the founders, outlined the group’s direction in a public statement. Ma spent four years at the Ethereum Foundation before departing earlier this year. He said ETHLabs will support builders while improving Ethereum infrastructure.

“We are at the moment Ethereum was built for,” Ma wrote on X.

He added that Ethereum remains best positioned to serve worldwide finance. He also said the organization will expand distribution for Ethereum applications and assets.

The founding team includes Josh Rudolf, Ansgar Dietrichs, Barnabé Monnot, and Caspar Schwarz-Schilling. Each member previously worked at the Ethereum Foundation. They left the organization during recent months as part of broader personnel changes.

Former Foundation Researchers Form Independent Development Group

Several other Ethereum Foundation figures have also departed recently. Those departures include Tim Beiko, Tomasz Stańczak, John Stark, Trent Van Epps, and Hsiao-Wei Wang. ETHLabs contributor Ryan Berckmans said those exits reflected disagreements over strategy rather than confidence in Ethereum.

The ETHLabs announcement listed Beiko as a community member. However, Stańczak stated publicly that he was not involved with the initiative. Wang and Van Epps have not announced participation in the organization.

More than 50 individuals and organizations support the project. BitMine, SharpLink, and Lubin joined as anchor funders. Meanwhile, SNZ and Octant entered the initiative as contributors.

Community members include Uniswap founder Hayden Adams. Dragonfly partners Haseeb Qureshi and Tom Schmidt also joined the effort. Representatives from Coinbase, Polygon, Zksync, and other Ethereum-focused organizations are participating.

Several active Ethereum Foundation contributors are also involved. Those participants include Alex Stokes and Barnabas Busa. Their involvement reflects continued cooperation between independent groups and Foundation contributors.

Ethereum Foundation Acknowledges the New Initiative

The Ethereum Foundation publicly recognized the launch in a social media thread. The organization described ETHLabs as part of a wider trend across the ecosystem. It said multiple organizations now contribute to Ethereum’s development goals.

The Foundation stated that “realizing Ethereum’s potential takes a coalition of organizations working together.” It also said it looks forward to seeing what ETHLabs builds. The statement aligned with its recent efforts to decentralize research responsibilities.

Vitalik Buterin previously outlined the Foundation’s evolving role. He said the Foundation is “not the center of Ethereum” and functions as one participant within a broader network. According to Buterin, the organization intends to remain smaller while independent groups attract external funding and pursue development work.

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