Key Takeaways
The Ethereum Foundation has shut down its Protocol Support unit following five years of operation.
This team managed network upgrades, facilitated core developer meetings, and provided EIP assistance.
Key milestones under Protocol Support included The Merge, Dencun, and Pectra implementations.
The fellowship program run by the team prepared emerging developers for client and research roles.
Responsibilities previously handled by this team will be redistributed throughout the foundation’s revamped organizational framework.
After five years of facilitating critical network improvements and developer education programs, the Ethereum Foundation has officially closed its Protocol Support division. This dissolution comes as part of a broader organizational transformation that included workforce reductions and a complete restructuring into multiple operational tiers. The team’s legacy includes infrastructure that facilitated Ethereum’s historic shift to proof-of-stake and numerous subsequent network enhancements.
Organizational Overhaul Eliminates Centralized Coordination Unit
Established in 2021, Protocol Support served as a crucial bridge between the Ethereum Foundation and various ecosystem participants including client development teams, academic researchers, EIP proposal authors, and infrastructure operators. The division was responsible for orchestrating All Core Developers meetings and maintaining oversight of technical initiatives preceding each scheduled network enhancement. Additionally, the team provided essential guidance to EIP authors throughout the proposal lifecycle, from initial discussion phases through testing and final deployment.
During its initial operational phase, the division facilitated the Berlin, London, and Arrow Glacier upgrades. The team subsequently coordinated multiple testnets—Rayonism, Amphora, and Kintsugi—in preparation for Ethereum’s landmark transition to proof-of-stake through The Merge. This comprehensive effort synchronized testing protocols, developer coordination meetings, and public communications throughout the network’s most significant transformation.
Following The Merge, Protocol Support continued facilitating the Shapella, Dencun, and Pectra upgrades while sustaining dialogue across Ethereum’s distributed development ecosystem. The division tracked testnet deployment progress and ensured contributors remained informed about upcoming mainnet modifications. This coordination function minimized disconnects between technical governance decisions, quality assurance processes, and ecosystem readiness.
Training Initiatives Transition Under Revised Organizational Framework
Building upon an initial apprenticeship initiative, the team developed the Ethereum Protocol Fellowship to cultivate the next generation of core protocol contributors. This fellowship provided comprehensive training in protocol research methodologies, testing frameworks, and client development practices throughout Ethereum’s technical landscape. Participants gained direct access to seasoned researchers, established client teams, and specialized technical committees.
The division also operated Forkcast, a centralized tracking system monitoring EIPs, testnet deployments, upgrade preparedness metrics, and mainnet activation schedules. This platform provided developers with a consolidated resource for monitoring evolving timelines and technical specifications across multiple network forks. Forkcast established a singular authoritative source for navigating complex upgrade logistics.
Team members publicly acknowledged the closure and encouraged interested organizations to reach out regarding available talent. Mario Havel continues his employment with the Ethereum Foundation, though the broader team structure has been eliminated. Former division lead William Morriss likewise confirmed that the restructuring concluded his tenure with the foundation.
Network Enhancement Responsibilities Redistributed Throughout Foundation
On June 23, the foundation disclosed its most recent staff reduction, eliminating 54 positions while simultaneously reorganizing internal operations into five distinct layers: protocol, access, user, community, and institutional. These transformational changes dissolved several centralized divisions and redistributed their functions across the reimagined organizational architecture.
The newly established Protocol Layer will incorporate portions of the upgrade coordination and network planning responsibilities formerly managed by Protocol Support. Additional teams will assume control over developer education initiatives, community engagement, and support services for Ethereum Improvement Proposals. The foundation has not yet provided comprehensive details regarding the specific allocation of these various functions.
The closure of Protocol Support marks the conclusion of a unit that shepherded Ethereum through numerous transformative technical achievements. Its contributions encompassed network architecture planning, cross-team developer coordination, quality assurance support, fellowship administration, and transparent upgrade communication. Ethereum’s redesigned organizational structure will continue executing these essential functions without the previously centralized team identity.
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