Uniswap founder Hayden Adams recently criticized the Ethereum Foundation’s newly established advisory group, the “Silviculture Society.” In a February 28 post, Adams shared his honest feedback, stating the initiative did not meet the expectations of the Ethereum community regarding the Ethereum Foundation communication.
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Adams emphasized that what the community wanted was not “flowery language” or advice from a group of “random people on Twitter.” He pointed out that the initiative’s message and structure failed to address ongoing concerns.
Adams clarified that he wasn’t criticizing the 15 members chosen for the advisory group, but rather the purpose and execution of the initiative itself. He stressed the need for the Ethereum Foundation to communicate more effectively and directly with the community regarding their initiatives and decisions.
This is an advisory group – not paid, one year term, and EF people (or really anyone who they choose to talk to) can ask them for advice via dedicated channels.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 28, 2025
It is an experimental effort to create more channels for builders and other community voices to influence the EF, and…
Improving Ethereum Foundation Communication with the Community
The Ethereum community has raised concerns about the Foundation’s lack of transparency and its recent structural changes. Many feel that these changes, including treasury management practices, are affecting ETH’s market performance.
Additionally, the Foundation’s approach to communication has been questioned. Ethereum users want clear, transparent messages from the Foundation about its direction, especially concerning the restructuring and financial strategies.
The Silviculture Society was designed to provide “informal counsel” to the Foundation. However, Ethereum community members feel it doesn’t address their concerns. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, defended the group, explaining its experimental nature and focus on core Ethereum values.
The EF Silviculture Society: a loose collection of individuals from outside the Foundation who provide informal counsel to the EF in tending to the (dark or otherwise) forests in the infinite garden of Ethereum, to make sure we sustain the core values of open source, privacy,… pic.twitter.com/cleIrpArCi
— Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn) February 28, 2025
EF’s Structural Changes and Leadership Concerns
The creation of the Silviculture Society is part of a broader restructuring of the Ethereum Foundation. On February 25, Aya Miyaguchi stepped down from her position as executive director. Her new role as president of the Foundation raises questions about the future leadership structure.
The restructuring has sparked ongoing debate about the Ethereum Foundation’s stability and long-term goals. The community is especially concerned about ETH’s performance in 2024, as it underperformed compared to other major cryptocurrencies.
As these concerns mount, the Ethereum Foundation faces increasing pressure to clarify its strategies and rebuild trust with the community.
