Developer of the Ethereum core and the head of the Geth client development team, Peter Szilágyi, criticized the Ethereum Foundation, calling the network a “trusted circle of power centered around Vitalik Buterin.”
Silagyi believes that most of the Ethereum ecosystem projects are controlled by one or three venture capital companies and five to ten people from Buterin’s circle. According to the developer, they have formed a small group that determines the success of all cryptocurrency projects.
Silagyi has conflicting feelings about his role in the Ethereum Foundation, as the public perception of his leadership position is not accurate. According to the developer, the Ethereum Foundation is using his reputation to demonstrate a diversity of opinions, while the real control is behind closed doors.
As Silaghi put it, he is only perceived as a leader because he has publicly supported the image of Geth for the past nine years and has not been afraid to criticize those in power. However, every time he has stood up to influential insiders, more voices have been raised in their defense, he lamented. The Ethereum Foundation treats developers like expendable assets, and although the Geth team is one of the oldest teams in the Ethereum ecosystem, its role is not highly valued, according to Szilagyi.
Despite the rise of the Ether market capitalization above $460 billion, the Ethereum Foundation unfairly pays salaries to developers, Szilagyi complains. Over the past six years, his total salary has been $625,000 before taxes and benefits. Silady called it proof that workers are underpaid while others make a profit. Thus, the fund forces bona fide developers to look for external sources of income. Silady mentioned two Ethereum researchers, Justin Drake and Dankrad Feist, who worked as consultants on external projects, which is essentially considered a conflict of interest.
The developer came to the conclusion that Ethereum can be decentralized, but Buterin fully and indirectly controls it. Initially, Ethereum was conceived as an ecosystem with equal opportunities for all, but later turned into a “ruling elite of friends and investors,” which now will never give up control and will continue to operate on the principle of “Either play or you will be ousted,” said the disgruntled developer.
Recently, Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal complained to the Ethereum Foundation for neglecting second-tier network developers and the unfair distribution of cash grants.
