Ethereum core dev criticizes Vitalik Buterin's influence, cites centralization

Key Takeaways

• Péter Szilágyi, lead developer for Ethereum's Geth client, publicly criticized the Ethereum Foundation's centralization and Vitalik Buterin's dominant influence over protocol decisions.
• Szilágyi warned that the current governance structure risks protocol capture by insiders, undermining Ethereum's decentralized ethos.

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Péter Szilágyi, a lead developer for Ethereum’s Geth client, has raised concerns about Vitalik Buterin’s dominant influence over the protocol and criticized the Ethereum Foundation’s centralized decision-making structure in a public letter released today.

In his letter, Szilágyi highlighted that the Ethereum Foundation’s structure allows a small group centered around Buterin to heavily influence project directions, creating risks of protocol capture by insiders. The core developer described Buterin’s central role in roadmap decisions as contributing to “non-decentralized governance.”

Szilágyi also criticized the foundation’s treatment of long-term contributors, noting that developers like himself have been underappreciated, leading to “diminished roles and external income pursuits among core developers.” His concerns reflect broader community discussions about concentrated influence within Ethereum’s governance structure.

The Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit organization overseeing Ethereum’s development, is now facing internal critiques regarding both its centralized decision-making processes and compensation practices for core developers.