Ethereum to AI: Core Developer Eric Conner Exits After Leadership Dispute

In a January 21 post on X, Conner declared, "I am no longer a dot eth. Perhaps some day those in leadership roles will realign with the community but for now, I am out".

Conner expressed his concerns about the leadership’s alignment with the community’s values.

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He explained that his decision stemmed from losing the motivation to work in an environment he felt lacked openness and collaboration.

Conner wrote another post on X, saying, "Leaders matter, culture matters, community matters, and we can’t just shrug this off anymore. <…> Truly, I hope Ethereum wins, but I can no longer spend all of my days shouting into this void".

His departure came after Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, dismissed calls for leadership changes and confirmed his sole authority over the Ethereum Foundation.

Some supported Buterin’s approach, valuing his vision and consistency, while others criticized it for clashing with blockchain’s principle of decentralization.

After 11 years with Ethereum, Conner aims to channel his efforts into AI development. His initial focus will be on Freysa.ai, a project aimed at creating advanced AI tools.

Recently, Buterin addressed concerns raised by the Ethereum community about staking ETH to fund operations. What did he say? Read the full story.