Woofun AI reports that the Ethereum Foundation officially dissolved its Protocol Support team on July 9, a move confirmed via the unit’s official X account. This dissolution represents the final phase of a significant organizational overhaul initiated earlier this year, effectively ending the team’s existence just over a year after its formation.

Established in 2023 during a prior reorganization, the Protocol Support team held a critical mandate. Its responsibilities included coordinating Ethereum protocol development, managing hard fork schedules, supporting protocol governance, and nurturing new core developers. The unit was designed to ensure stability and direction as the network navigated major technical upgrades, serving as a central hub for these essential functions.

The disbandment follows a broader restructuring announced last month, which resulted in the layoff of 54 employees. This reduction accounts for approximately 20% of the foundation’s total staff, or one-fifth of its workforce. Leadership stated that these cuts were necessary to streamline operations and reallocate resources toward core priorities, marking a decisive shift in the organization’s operational strategy.

Structurally, the foundation is now organized into five core departments: Protocol, Access, User, Community, and Institutional. These units operate alongside dedicated operations and management support teams. Per Woofun AI, the company submitted this new framework to reduce redundancy and enhance decision-making efficiency, replacing the previous specialized support structure with a more integrated departmental model.

Community reaction has been mixed regarding the operational impact. While protocol development will not halt, concerns persist about how coordination and governance will be managed without a dedicated team. Some developers fear that the loss of centralized coordination could slow down decision-making for future upgrades, while others view the restructuring as a necessary measure to reduce overhead and focus on high-impact work.

This transition signals a more disciplined, cost-conscious approach at the foundation, prioritizing efficiency over expansion. The long-term implications for Ethereum’s development roadmap remain to be seen, as stakeholders closely monitor how this leaner, focused structure affects development pace and governance mechanisms.