Former Ethereum Foundation researchers launched Ethlabs to boost institutional adoption amid funding concerns

The Ethereum ecosystem has witnessed the launch of a new nonprofit research and development organization named Ethlabs, backed by former Ethereum Foundation experts as well as Ether treasury managers Bitmine and SharpLink. Ethlabs aims to prepare Ethereum for its next phase of growth and make the network more robust for institutional adoption.

Focus on institutional adoption

According to a statement released Monday by SharpLink, Ethlabs was founded with the mission to “prepare Ethereum for the next stage of institutional adoption.” The funding initiative has attracted support not only from Bitmine and SharpLink but also from Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin and other key contributors. Based in the US, SharpLink has built a reputation for its innovative digital asset strategies.

The statement added that Ethlabs brings together leading technologists who have played crucial roles in the most critical updates to the Ethereum network over the past decade. The organization is expected to provide a more stable and long-term institutional foundation for ongoing research and development.

Founders include former senior researchers

Ethlabs was founded by five prominent figures who previously served as senior researchers at the Ethereum Foundation: Ansgar Dietrichs, Barnabé Monnot, Caspar Schwarz-Schilling, Josh Rudolf, and Julian Ma. Their initiative is designed to offer researchers and developers working on Ethereum’s core technology an independent and sustainable environment for long-term projects.

Joe Lubin, Consensys founder and one of Ethereum’s co-founders, emphasized in his remarks that Ethereum has entered a new stage in its development. He argued for the need to establish multiple steering hubs around the blockchain to foster wider adoption.

Funding debates and leadership changes

The announcement of Ethlabs follows a period of intense funding debates surrounding the Ethereum Foundation. Former contributor Trenton Van Epps had recently drawn attention to the risk of a funding crisis for core development. Internal divisions have also surfaced, as evidenced by the resignation of co-executive director Hsiao-Wei Wang last week.

In May, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin noted that the Ethereum Foundation’s resources are limited, comprising only 0.16% of the total Ether supply. Van Epps has warned that, as the Foundation continues to liquidate assets, the network could face a slow-moving financial crunch.

Ethereum educator David Hoffman has argued that the Foundation has deliberately left room for new initiatives like Ethlabs to emerge. Hoffman suggested that Ethlabs could represent one of the most promising paths forward for the Ethereum ecosystem.

Market weakness persists

These organizational developments come as Ether continues to face price pressure. According to the report, Ether is trading roughly 65% below its peak, hovering around $1,700—levels last seen between October 2023 and April 2025.

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