Ethereum Community Shows Strong Support for Danny Ryan to Lead the Ethereum Foundation

Ethereum Community Shows Strong Support for Danny Ryan to Lead the Ethereum Foundation

An informal poll among Ethereum supporters has revealed overwhelming backing for former Ethereum researcher Danny Ryan to become the next leader of the Ethereum Foundation. This grassroots support mirrors endorsements from several prominent figures within the Ethereum community.

The poll, hosted at votedannyryan.com, utilizes a simple approval voting system that allows participants to cast their votes by signing a transaction with their ETH wallets. Notably, the process is entirely gas-free.

So far, an impressive 99% of the 300 participating wallets, collectively holding over 50,000 ETH valued at approximately $160 million, have voted in favor of Ryan. However, it’s important to note that Ryan is the sole candidate in this poll, and the results do not carry any official weight.

A Community-Driven Initiative

The voting platform was created by Ethereum developer Fabrice Cheng, who launched the “Vote Danny Ryan” campaign to provide an objective and peaceful means for the community to voice their opinions.

“Ethereum’s greatest strength has always been its social layer, and ensuring that the community has a voice is vital for its future,” Cheng stated in an interview with The Block. However, he emphasized that this initiative does not imply that the Ethereum Foundation should adopt decentralized voting for every decision.

The leadership of the Ethereum Foundation has been a topic of increasing debate. Many community members have raised concerns about inefficiencies within the organization, while others have expressed dissatisfaction with the current executive director, Aya Miyaguchi.

Support from Prominent Ethereum Figures

Ethereum co-founder and Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin has also suggested replacing Miyaguchi with Danny Ryan and Jerome de Tychey, president of ETH France, as co-leaders of the Ethereum Foundation.

“When I saw the calls for Danny Ryan to step up as Executive Director, I was very supportive. Danny is an immaculate leader who can bring the kind of drive the technical side of the EF needs,” Lubin wrote, emphasizing the need for fresh energy and a stronger technical focus within the foundation.

Ryan, a key architect behind Ethereum’s transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake (The Merge), is widely respected for his deep technical expertise. Supporters believe that his leadership would align with Ethereum’s long-term vision.

Vitalik Buterin’s Role in the Decision

Despite the growing support for Ryan, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has reiterated that the decision on the next EF leader remains in his hands, at least until governance reforms are implemented.

Ryan himself has acknowledged the discussions surrounding his potential role, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that he has “opened a dialogue with Vitalik and others at the EF about such changes.” However, it remains uncertain whether a formal initiative will emerge to appoint him as the next leader.

For now, the Ethereum community continues to push for change, highlighting the importance of leadership in guiding the network’s future.