Who should lead the world's largest blockchain?

CoinDesk · The Protocol

Ethereum's identity crisis: who should lead the world's biggest blockchain?

March 18, 2026

▮ Lead Story · Ethereum

Ethereum community debates Foundation's new mandate document

The Ethereum Foundation's new mandate — a sweeping document released to clarify the organization's role and principles — sparked a torrent of reactions, with supporters praising it as a long-overdue articulation of the blockchain's ethos and critics saying it reinforces the foundation's hands-off approach at a time when Ethereum needs stronger leadership.

The 38-page document lays out what the foundation described as a constitutional guide to its mission, emphasizing its role as a neutral steward rather than a centralized authority — maintaining Ethereum as decentralized infrastructure while supporting the protocol layer and public goods across the ecosystem.

"The document does little to address practical business development concerns about how the ecosystem serves real users."

— Dankrad Feist, former Ethereum Foundation researcher

Reactions on X divided into two camps. Critics argued the mandate was overly philosophical and failed to address Ethereum's need to compete for real-world adoption, particularly as institutional interest grows. Supporters welcomed it as a reaffirmation of the network's foundational principles — among them Chris Perkins of CoinFund, who said it clarifies the foundation's purpose as a nonprofit steward, and Nethermind, which said it reflects properties institutional buyers already look for in blockchain infrastructure.

By Margaux Nijkerk

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