The Ethereum Foundation does not operate like a company. It does not have a growth target, shareholders, or a revenue model. Its job is to ensure Ethereum succeeds in the long run — a mission that shapes everything about how it operates, who it hires, and what working there feels like.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to work at the heart of the Ethereum ecosystem, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What the Ethereum Foundation Actually Does

The Foundation was established in 2014 in Zug, Switzerland as a non-profit Stiftung (foundation under Swiss law). Its core mandate: support Ethereum's long-term health without controlling it.

In practice, this means:

• Funding core protocol research — Cryptography, consensus mechanisms, scalability, and security research that no single company would invest in because the benefits are shared across the whole ecosystem

• Administering the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) — Grants to independent researchers, client teams, educational projects, and community initiatives globally

• Organizing Devcon and Devconnect — The flagship annual gatherings of the global Ethereum developer community

• Producing ethereum.org — The primary educational and documentation hub for the protocol

• Advocating externally — With regulators, policymakers, and enterprises entering the space

Organizational Structure

The Foundation is not structured as a traditional corporation. Teams are organized around functions rather than products:

• Research Team — Protocol R&D; led by researchers with PhDs in cryptography, computer science, and economics; publishes cutting-edge work on consensus, ZK proofs, and execution layer improvements

• Protocol Support — Works directly with client teams (Nethermind, Geth, Besu, Lighthouse, etc.) to coordinate upgrades and maintain client diversity

• Grants (ESP) — Processes hundreds of applications annually from ecosystem projects seeking funding

• Operations — Finance, legal, HR, and administrative infrastructure for the global organization

• Communications — External messaging, ethereum.org, social presence, and event production

• People Operations — Talent acquisition and employee experience

Leadership (2026)

The Foundation is led by a small executive team:

• Aya Miyaguchi — President, joined 2018; leads strategy and external relations

• Tomasz Kajetan Stańczak — Co-Executive Director (joined 2025); founder of Nethermind; brings engineering credibility and ecosystem relationships

• Davide Crapis — Head of AI; reflects EF's focus on the AI x Ethereum intersection

• Connor Spelliscy — Head of Global Policy Strategy; key figure in regulatory engagement

Current Open Roles (February 2026)

The Foundation has 15 open positions as of February 2026:

• Programming Lead | Devcon 8 — Supporting Devcon event

• People Operations Partner (POP) — HR and employee experience lead

• Legal Operation Associate — Internal legal team

• Plus research and engineering roles in cryptography, protocol design, and tooling
  
  All roles are listed at https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/ethereum-foundation.

Culture: What Working at EF Actually Looks Like

People who have worked at the Ethereum Foundation consistently describe a culture defined by:

Intellectual depth over hierarchy. The Foundation attracts researchers and engineers who want to work on hard problems at civilizational scale. Titles matter less than the quality of your thinking.

Full location independence. The team is globally distributed with no expectation of office presence. Optional offices exist in Berlin and Boulder for those who want them.

Trust and autonomy. The Foundation trusts employees to manage their own schedules and priorities. Self-directed people thrive; those who need close oversight struggle.

Transparency as default. Research is published openly, decisions are explained publicly, and the team is expected to communicate with clarity both internally and externally. This mirrors Ethereum's own open-source ethos.

Genuine belief in the mission. The Foundation is explicit that it wants people who are enthusiastic about Ethereum and open-source technology — not people treating it as a resume line item. This is assessed throughout the interview process.

The Interview Process

The EF does not publish a formal interview process document, but based on available information and candidate accounts:

1. Application review — Applications are evaluated for evidence of genuine Ethereum engagement, not just professional credentials

2. Initial conversation — Culture and motivation fit; expect questions about why Ethereum specifically and what draws you to open-source work

3. Work sample or technical assessment — Role-dependent; researchers may be asked to present previous work or engage with a research question

4. Team interviews — Multiple conversations with future colleagues; collaborative and conversational rather than interrogative

5. Offer — Compensation includes competitive base salary with full benefits; no equity (non-profit) but the mission is the compensation for many who join

What they look for:

• Genuine enthusiasm for Ethereum and decentralized technologies

• Ability to work independently in a remote, asynchronous environment

• Exceptional written and verbal communication

• Collaborative mindset with low ego

• Evidence of public contribution to the ecosystem (writing, code, community)

How to Stand Out as an Applicant

Competition for EF roles is intense. The Foundation is one of the most sought-after organizations in web3. To stand out:

1. Build a public track record — Research you have published, talks you have given, code you have contributed, or writing about Ethereum signals genuine engagement

2. Know the protocol deeply — Not just conceptually; understand the specific research areas the team works on and form views about open problems

3. Read the research output — The EF publishes extensively on ethresear.ch and through the Ethereum blog; familiarity with current work signals you are already part of the ecosystem

4. Connect at events — Devcon and Devconnect bring the entire Foundation team together; meeting potential colleagues in person builds relationships that help at the application stage

5. Apply for the right role — The Foundation has specific needs; a forced application to a role that does not fit your background is less effective than waiting for the right opening and applying compellingly

Is EF the Right Fit for You?

The Ethereum Foundation is a genuinely unique workplace. It is right for you if:

• You want to work on problems that matter at scale, without a commercial constraint on what "done" looks like

• You are comfortable with ambiguity and self-direction

• You believe in Ethereum's mission as more than a career opportunity

• You want to work alongside some of the most respected researchers and engineers in the blockchain space

It may not be right for you if you are looking for a fast-paced startup environment, clear career ladders, or high equity upside.