Aya Miyaguchi named Ethereum Foundation president, Vitalik hints at changes

Aya Miyaguchi will transition from her role as Executive Director to President of the Ethereum Foundation, marking a leadership change within the organization. 

Miyaguchi announced the move in a blog post, stating that the transition had been planned for the past year.

In her new role, Miyaguchi will focus on strengthening the Ethereum Foundation’s institutional partnerships and expanding its vision and culture. She emphasized that the foundation’s role is not to control Ethereum ( ETH ) but to uphold its values and ensure its resilience as a decentralized ecosystem.

“Ethereum belongs to everyone precisely because it belongs to no one,” Miyaguchi wrote. “Our culture of permissionlessness doesn’t just tolerate disagreement—it grows stronger through it.”

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared support for the decision on X, and hinteded at future leadership changes. 

Not a new face

Miyaguchi has been with the Ethereum Foundation for seven years, overseeing key initiatives such as client diversity, research and development interoperability, and development coordination.

She highlighted Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake as a major milestone, describing it as an example of “leadership without control, coordination without centralization.”

She also reiterated the Ethereum Foundation’s philosophy of “subtraction,” which aims to minimize centralized influence while supporting Ethereum’s long-term sustainability.

Under her leadership, the foundation has focused on stewarding rather than controlling key development efforts, promoting diverse client teams, and fostering independent community leadership.

“The Ethereum Foundation’s responsibility is to ensure that Ethereum remains resilient, not just as a network, but as a broader ecosystem of people, ideas, and values,” Miyaguchi stated.

Her transition to president reflects the Ethereum Foundation’s evolving strategy, ensuring that its role remains adaptive while maintaining Ethereum’s decentralized ethos.