Ethereum Foundation core researcher Josh Stark resigns, without disclosing specific reasons

Ethereum Foundation core researcher and project manager Josh Stark (Josh Stark) announced on the X platform on April 17, 2026 (Thursday) that he will leave the Ethereum Foundation after five years in the role. According to Cointelegraph, Stark did not disclose the specific reasons for his departure. In his X post, he said that there are currently “no plans for the future,” and that he intends to temporarily spend time with his family and friends.

Stark’s statement and his responsibilities at the Foundation

According to the Ethereum Foundation organizational chart, Stark is listed as one of four “management” members of the Foundation, and nearly all employees at the Foundation report their work to him. In his X post, Stark said: “The Ethereum ecosystem has reliably done many things that people once thought were impossible. It’s easy to forget how many people truly feared and doubted that Ethereum would ever launch, that DeFi would ever succeed, or that a proof-of-stake system would ever truly be implemented.”

Back-to-back personnel changes: Trent Van Epps announced his resignation the day before

According to Cointelegraph, on the day before Stark announced his departure (Wednesday), Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent Van Epps announced that he had stepped down from his role the previous week. Both departures occurred within the period after the Ethereum Foundation completed its 2025 reorganization.

The Ethereum Foundation’s 2025 reorganization process

According to a public statement, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced in January 2025 that he would implement a comprehensive reform of the Ethereum Foundation in response to community criticism of the ecosystem’s long-term direction. The goals Buterin publicly listed include bringing in “fresh” talent, increasing decentralization, and developing faster transaction throughput and speed protocols. In the statement, Buterin said that after the reorganization, the restructured Ethereum Foundation would not engage in ideological debates, would not lobby lawmakers in Washington, and would not act on behalf of “vested interests.”

In March 2025, the Ethereum Foundation officially announced a new leadership team, appointing Foundation researcher Wang Xiaowei and Nethermind CEO Tomasz Stańczak as co-directors. According to the Ethereum Foundation organizational chart, Stańczak stepped down in February 2026, while Wang Xiaowei is still a member of the management committee.

Frequently asked questions

When did Josh Stark announce he would leave the Ethereum Foundation?

According to Cointelegraph and Josh Stark’s X post, Stark publicly announced his resignation on April 17, 2026 (Thursday), leaving after five years at the Ethereum Foundation. Cointelegraph contacted Stark to request comment; as of the time of publication, it had not received a response.

What responsibilities did Josh Stark have at the Ethereum Foundation before resigning?

According to the Ethereum Foundation organizational chart, Stark is one of four “management” members of the Foundation, holding the position of core researcher and project manager, and nearly all employees at the Foundation report their work to him.

What recent management personnel changes has the Ethereum Foundation seen?

According to Cointelegraph, Trent Van Epps announced that he had resigned the previous week on the day before Stark’s announcement (Wednesday). Co-director Tomasz Stańczak has also stepped down as of February 2026, and Wang Xiaowei is still a member of the management committee.