The Ethereum Protocol Support (EPS) team, a core group of developers that coordinated network upgrades and maintenance for the past five years, has officially disbanded. The team’s dissolution, announced on May 16, 2025, marks a structural shift in how Ethereum’s development roadmap will be managed going forward.
A Five-Year Mission Concludes
The EPS team was formed in 2020 to streamline the coordination of Ethereum’s protocol-level changes. Over its lifespan, the team played a role in delivering several major upgrades, including the Merge, which transitioned Ethereum from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, and the Shanghai and Cancun upgrades. In a statement, the team said its decision to disband was a natural conclusion to its original mission, which was to help Ethereum’s development become more distributed.
Also read: Bitmine Acquires 20,500 ETH From Galaxy, Treasury Nears 5% of Total Supply
What Changes for Ethereum Development?
With the EPS team dissolved, the responsibility for coordinating future upgrades will fall to the existing client teams and the Ethereum Foundation’s research and development groups. This structure mirrors the early days of Ethereum, before the EPS team was created. Developers have indicated that the upcoming Pectra upgrade, which includes several Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), will proceed as planned. The Ethereum Foundation has confirmed its continued support for core development through its existing grants and research programs.
Community Reaction and Next Steps
The disbandment has been met with a mix of acknowledgment and concern within the Ethereum community. Some developers view the move as a positive step toward further decentralization of the protocol’s governance, while others worry about the loss of a dedicated coordination layer. Key figures in the Ethereum ecosystem, including members of the Geth and Prysm client teams, have publicly stated their commitment to maintaining the network’s stability. The next major milestone for Ethereum remains the Pectra upgrade, which is expected to be tested on public testnets later this year.
Also read: Vitalik Buterin Hints at Ethereum’s Next Major Upgrade After the Merge
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Ethereum Protocol Support team disband?
The team disbanded after five years, citing a natural conclusion to its mission and a desire to allow the broader Ethereum developer community to take on its responsibilities.
What did the Ethereum Protocol Support team do?
The team was responsible for coordinating major Ethereum network upgrades, managing the protocol’s development roadmap, and providing support to client teams.
Will this affect Ethereum’s future upgrades?
The dissolution is not expected to halt Ethereum’s development, as other core developer teams and the Ethereum Foundation are expected to continue coordinating future upgrades.
Who was part of the Ethereum Protocol Support team?
The team consisted of several core Ethereum developers and researchers who worked closely with the Ethereum Foundation and other client teams.
Be the first to comment