The future of Ethereum appears uncertain due to a lack of clear leadership and vision, according to a former Ethereum Foundation engineer. Harikrishnan Mulackal, a former Solidity expert and compiler engineer, voiced his concerns in a social media post on March 14, highlighting the stagnation in Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) development due to internal disagreements.
Ethereum’s Direction in Question
Mulackal expressed frustration over the Ethereum ecosystem’s inability to move forward with critical changes. He noted that EVM modifications frequently face roadblocks, with decision-making hampered by differing opinions and contradicting priorities. This lack of consensus, he claims, has led to a near standstill in EVM evolution.
“The issue is that everyone has a different opinion on what these checkboxes should be, each contradicting the other. So nobody can agree on any changes,” Mulackal stated in his post on X.
The ex-engineer pointed out that only one significant EVM change—transient storage—has been implemented in the last five years. Even that modification, he said, was nearly abandoned at the last minute.
Call for More Decisive Leadership
Mulackal argued that Ethereum must prioritize efficiency and execution over prolonged research discussions. He called for a more ambitious approach, suggesting that the blockchain network should aim to release a hard fork every quarter. Without decisive leadership, he warned, Ethereum’s only viable path would be ossification—an end to further upgrades and changes.
“Ethereum must focus on shipping updates faster and less on research,” he emphasized, cautioning that if the network continues at its current pace, it will fail to progress beyond its current state.
Ethereum Faces Growing Competition
Ethereum has recently struggled to keep up with other cryptocurrencies. The Ethereum Foundation’s continuous ETH sales and the asset’s relatively modest price movement have raised concerns about its future trajectory. Meanwhile, competitors such as Bitcoin have not only reached previous all-time highs but have surpassed them.
Mulackal’s concerns add to growing worries within the crypto community regarding Ethereum’s governance structure and decision-making process. While Ethereum remains a dominant force in the blockchain space, its long-term sustainability may depend on resolving internal disputes and establishing a clearer strategic direction.
As Ethereum continues to navigate these challenges, its developers and stakeholders must decide whether to prioritize innovation or risk stagnation in an increasingly competitive landscape.
