As Ethereum approaches its inaugural official launch with Frontier, we have dedicated the final week of February at our hub in Switzerland to contemplating the future of the Ethereum Foundation. From the inception of the initiative, one of our chief aspirations has been not only to deliver an exceptional product but also to establish a world-class organization, characterized by governance quality and transparency commensurate with a foundation intended to facilitate the upkeep of the Ethereum code for potentially decades. To this end, we have undertaken several initiatives, including efforts to recruit new administrative personnel and an internal branding transformation, and we are now formally announcing our quest for new board of director members.
First, let’s outline how the foundation is currently structured from an organizational perspective.
Stiftung Ethereum (the German term for “Ethereum Foundation”) is a charitable organization registered in Switzerland; specifically, in the charming town of Zug:
The Stiftung serves as the entity ultimately responsible for overseeing the funds and shaping the long-term vision and trajectory of Ethereum. The foundation is legally governed by a group known as the Foundation Council; however, there is also a broader advisory group that has been engaged in offering insights for decision-making. Numerous legal entities are registered across various countries in Europe, each employing individuals based in their respective nations. The offices in Switzerland and Berlin are the largest. The Foundation Council is designed to make infrequent decisions and concentrate on long-term objectives; for daily operational decisions related to development, an “executive” team comprising myself, Gavin Wood, and Jeffrey Wilcke takes charge, with substantial support from Aeron Buchanan, Jutta Steiner, Kelley Becker, Frithjof Weinert, and others in administrative and security oversight.
We are immensely appreciative of the ongoing contributions from the current Foundation advisory board and council, and we have had a productive first year under their guidance. However, given the significant expansion in the organization’s scope and size, we are aiming to (i) incorporate new individuals into the Foundation Council and (ii) transition the Foundation’s operations to align more closely with those of a mature organization. Board members will be required to travel to Switzerland two to five times annually to participate in official board meetings, where the executive team will provide updates regarding the project’s current status, and we will discuss directions and pass resolutions as necessary concerning the Foundation. Board members are encouraged to contribute further beyond this. The new board is anticipated to be finalized and inaugurated by the end of June.
The ideal traits we seek in potential board candidates include:
- Experience in serving on non-profit boards
- Recognition as a leader and innovator in a sector (for-profit or non-profit) that could gain from blockchain and decentralized application technology, ideally beyond the existing “cryptocurrency” sphere.
- Experience and enthusiasm for engaging in long-term fundraising efforts
- Minimal conflicts of interest (considering the previous criterion, some conflicts are inevitable; however, we prefer individuals primarily involved in non-profit efforts or whose for-profit pursuits are not likely to intersect significantly with their position at Ethereum)
- Passion and interest in decentralized technology
- No history of unethical or illegal conduct, especially regarding embezzlement, insider trading, or fraud
- Variety in industry backgrounds along with national and cultural diversity (e.g., seeking a balance among North/South America, Europe, and Asia)
If you believe you meet most or all of these criteria, or know someone who does, please feel free to contact us via email at kelley@ethereum.org.