Ethereum developer Eric Conner leaves for AI after 11 years

Eric Conner, a core developer of Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH), has announced his departure from the community to focus on artificial intelligence innovations, particularly with a project called Freysa.ai.  

Conner's exit comes amid ongoing leadership concerns within the Ethereum Foundation, particularly following Vitalik Buterin's recent reaffirmation of his authority over the organisation.  

On January 21, Conner expressed his dissatisfaction with Buterin's dismissal of calls for a leadership overhaul.

“The person deciding the new EF leadership team is me,” Buterin stated.

This statement has drawn criticism from various community members who argue that it contradicts the decentralised ethos of blockchain technology.  

After 11 years in the Ethereum ecosystem, Conner expressed a loss of passion for the project.

“Leaders matter, culture matters, community matters and we can’t just shrug this off anymore,” he said, emphasising the importance of community and leadership alignment.

“I am no longer a dot eth. Perhaps someday those in leadership roles will realign with the community but for now, I am out,” he stated in his farewell message shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Conner's decision reflects broader concerns regarding the Ethereum Foundation's direction and governance.

He believes that without proper alignment with community values, the project's future could be at risk.

While some community members support Buterin’s vision and approach to leadership, others fear that it may lead to a more centralised structure.

As Conner transitions to AI development, he aims to explore how cryptocurrency can intersect with artificial intelligence to create open and trustworthy systems.

He noted that his initial focus would be on developing Freysa.ai but remains open to collaborating on other AI projects.

At the time of reporting, the Ethereum (ETH) price was $3,240.56.