The Rollup What It's Like Running Ethereum When Institutions Take Over with Tomasz K. Stańczak
Sep 4, 2025
Tomasz K. Stańczak, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation and founder of Nethermind, dives into the shifting power dynamics as institutions hold more ETH than the Foundation itself. He discusses how this institutional adoption influences Ethereum's governance and the growing tension between decentralization and institutional advantages. Tomasz highlights the Foundation's scaling priorities, the role of technical talent, and why institutions may eventually migrate from their own Layer 1 solutions to Ethereum's Layer 2.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hidden Builders Drive Momentum
- Tomasz says Ethereum's recent momentum was built by stealth contributors and clearer communication.
- Improved public clarity amplified work that had been happening behind the scenes.
Engineering Talent Built Ethereum's Core
- Tomasz credits engineering excellence and client performance as core to Ethereum's resilience.
- Deep technical engagement lets leaders push limits while appreciating developer constraints.
Institutions Raise New Value Questions
- Institutional adoption brings excitement but also questions about censorship resistance and capture.
- The community must balance institutional engagement with long-term protocol values.