# Ethereum Community Backs Danny Ryan in Unofficial On-Chain Vote
The Ethereum ($ETH) community has strongly endorsed former Ethereum Foundation researcher Danny Ryan as their next leader. According to an unofficial on-chain vote conducted on January 30, 99% of the participating wallets supported Ryan. Out of the 300 wallets that cast their votes, the overwhelming majority backed his candidacy.
# Unofficial Voting Process
The vote took place on the platform ‘votedannyryan.com,’ where Ethereum holders were given simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ options to express their support for Ryan. Participants could vote without incurring gas fees, making the process accessible and straightforward. Those involved in the vote collectively hold 50,000 ETH, approximately valued at $160 million, and almost unanimously supported Ryan. However, it is important to note that this vote is not tied to any official leadership change within the Ethereum Foundation (EF).
# System Design and Purpose
The voting system was developed by Fabrice Cheng, who emphasized the importance of reflecting the community’s voice in Ethereum’s social layer. He stated, “The greatest strength of Ethereum lies in its social layer, and it’s crucial to represent community voices,” while also clarifying that the vote did not carry official weight and should not imply that all EF decisions must be made through decentralized community votes.
“Many in the Ethereum community believe Danny Ryan is the leader we need. I built a site where you can vote (no gas) with ETH across major chains to support Danny as the next EF Executive Director. Please RT to spread the word! Link & Demo below” – fabda.eth (@fabdarice) January 21, 2025
# Ongoing Leadership Controversy
The Ethereum Foundation has recently faced leadership controversies, with some community members expressing dissatisfaction with the current chair Aya Miyaguchi. Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys and Ethereum co-founder, also advocated for appointing Danny Ryan and ETH France representative Jérôme de Tychey as co-leaders to enhance EF’s technical capabilities. Lubin hailed Ryan as an outstanding leader capable of driving EF’s technological advancements.
Ryan, who previously contributed to key initiatives such as Proof of Stake, Sharding, and The Merge, expressed interest in leadership change. He acknowledged on platform X (formerly Twitter) that discussions with Vitalik Buterin and other EF stakeholders had started. However, the official appointment process remains uncertain. Buterin himself asserted that any leadership change would be decided upon once formal governance reforms are in place.
# Financial Concerns and Community Discontent
The Ethereum Foundation supports Ethereum and related technologies, providing financial and non-financial backing to projects within the ecosystem. As of October 31, 2024, the foundation’s holdings stood at $970 million, down from $1.6 billion in March 2022. This decline is attributed to market volatility, increased R&D investments, and heightened community support spending.
Some community members have voiced concerns over EF’s financial management, arguing that selling ETH to cover operational costs puts downward pressure on the market and reflects a lack of confidence in Ethereum’s long-term value. They suggest that EF should generate income through staking ETH, which could positively impact the network’s health and long-term development.
# Vitalik Buterin’s Perspective
Vitalik Buterin acknowledged the issue, stating, “We are aware of the concerns and EF is exploring various strategies, including ETH staking.” He highlighted the need for EF to maintain neutral during network disputes such as regulatory challenges and hard forks.
The situation at the Ethereum Foundation remains dynamic, with many eyes on the unofficial vote and the potential for leadership change to bring about significant developments within the community and the broader ecosystem.
