Our Philosophy

The Ethereum Foundation is not Ethereum.

We do not own Ethereum, operate it, or manage it. We are one of many organizations that cares deeply about Ethereum — its potential, and the values it represents.

However, we know that we have a unique position within that ecosystem due to our history. Significant research, development, and community cultivation took place within the Ethereum Foundation. Today, we continue to fund development of many significant components of the Ethereum ecosystem.

As Ethereum has grown and changed, so has the Ethereum Foundation. We know that it's not just what we do but how we do it that matters.

To succeed long term, Ethereum needs a vibrant decentralized ecosystem with many independent organizations that provide funding, coordination, and leadership. Ethereum must remain a bazaar, and never become a cathedral.

Instead of just asking "how do we solve this problem?" we ask "how can the Ethereum community solve this problem, and how can we help?"

We often describe this as a philosophy of "Subtraction". This means resisting the natural tendency of organizations to grow and accumulate value within themselves, and cultivating value creation outside the Foundation in the broader Ethereum ecosystem:

• Instead of capturing opportunities, we distribute opportunities for others
• Instead of being defensive when others create value, we’re thrilled
• Instead of trying to matter more, we try to matter less

Ultimately, any philosophy is only as good as the choices it inspires.