Early Ethereum developer Eric Conner stated on social media that the disconnect between the Ethereum Foundation (EF) and the community is becoming increasingly evident, with a lack of transparency and insensitivity to the demand for change. Conner believes that although his enthusiasm for Ethereum may have waned, he still hopes for its success.

BlockBeats News, January 21st: Ethereum's early developer, Eric Conner, posted on x stating, "I believe Vitalik is a genius and a great wartime leader. He will let the core developer meeting run on its own and intervene when necessary, sticking to the long-term vision. However, the Ethereum Foundation's (EF) lack of transparency and growing disconnect with the community are becoming increasingly apparent. The Foundation could have cut 80% of its budget, and Ethereum would still function and thrive. The issue is that the current Foundation does not report to stakeholders, is gradually miring itself, and is resistant to change. The Foundation is currently showing a 'counter-victory and competitive mindset,' leading many community members to question whether they should continue to stay." Eric stated that leadership, culture, and community are all crucial, but currently, the EF no longer understands the community's demands for change. As an early participant in the Ethereum ecosystem and one of the founders of Ethhub, Eric said he may have lost his passion for Ethereum, but he still hopes Ethereum can succeed.

Ethereum developers criticize the foundation for being out of touch with the community, yet still hope for Ethereum's success.