Ethereum Needs A Leader—Or Its Future Could Be In Jeopardy, Ex-Engineer Warns

A former Ethereum Foundation engineer has raised concerns about the platform’s future, warning that a lack of clear leadership is slowing down critical development.

Harikrishnan Mulackal, who worked as a Solidity expert and compiler engineer, pointed out that Ethereum’s upgrade process has become sluggish, with only one major Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) change proposed in five years.

Lack Of Leadership Could Hurt The Network

According to Mulackal, Ethereum’s decentralized nature has led to delays in decision-making. He noted that while decentralization is a key strength, it has also made it difficult to push through necessary changes.

The only proposed EVM upgrade, transient storage, was almost scrapped at the last minute. He believes that without a more structured approach, the network could struggle to stay ahead of competitors.

This is why I left the Ethereum Foundation.

There is a lack of a clear and cohesive vision for Ethereum and EVM, making progress in EVM impossible.

I’ve seen EVM changes repeatedly shut down because they don’t check a certain box. The issue is that everyone has a different… https://t.co/TkAngYnycX

— Hari (@_hrkrshnn) March 14, 2025

Mulackal suggested that the network should prioritize execution over research, proposing a schedule of one hard fork per quarter to speed up improvements.

He argues that faster updates could help maintain the platform’s dominance in the blockchain space.

Internal Disagreements May Be A Bigger Problem

Mulackal’s concerns echo similar warnings from industry figures. Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy has previously said that leadership issues, not its technology, could be its downfall.

Gaevoy pointed out that there are contradictions within the organization’s leadership, with some pushing for market-driven incentives while others focus on social justice goals. This internal conflict, he warned, could lead to setbacks.

Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, has admitted the difficulties and is apparently working on reordering the leadership of the Ethereum Foundation. Still up for contention, though, is whether these developments will support or undermine the network’s basic values.

Ethereum’s development speed has slowed even if it remains a major participant in the blockchain scene. Mulackal’s assertion that only one major EVM modification was suggested in five years begs issues about whether the network can keep up with ideas from competing blockchains.

Before “redesigning” Ethereum, developers have always stressed thorough research. Mulackal, however, feels that this cautious approach is currently dragging the platform back. Ethereum should, he contends, concentrate more on providing useful improvements than on spending years researching possible hazards.

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