Ethereum Foundation Executive Change: Tomasz Stańczak Resigns, ETH Price Breaks $2,000

On February 13, 2026, the Ethereum Foundation (EF) announced a key personnel change: Co-Executive Director Tomasz Stańczak will officially step down at the end of this month. This news comes less than a year after he jointly took the helm with Hsiao-Wei Wang in April 2025. With Bastian Aue joining the leadership team as interim co-CEO, the community is closely watching the ripple effects this change will have on the Ethereum ecosystem and ETH prices.

Brief Era of Reform: Tomasz Stańczak’s Nine-Month Tenure

Looking back at Tomasz Stańczak’s tenure, it was undoubtedly a period full of transformation and challenges. He joined EF in March 2025, at a time when the foundation was facing community questions about transparency and strategic direction. As the founder of Nethermind, Stańczak brought a pragmatic “builder” mindset to management, working alongside Hsiao-Wei Wang to overhaul the organization.

In just nine months, Stańczak drove several key reforms:

• Clear Roadmap: He led efforts to strengthen focus on Ethereum’s scalability, privacy, AI integration, and institutional adoption.
• Internal Restructuring: Established a dedicated “Platform Team” to coordinate interoperability standards with over 20 Layer 2 projects.
• Increased Transparency: Promoted the development of clearer treasury policies and budget structures, addressing community concerns over fund management.

In his farewell blog post, Stańczak wrote, “The roadmap is clearer, and the goals are set.” He believes that with EF’s internal reforms completed and external perceptions of Ethereum as a “low-risk chain” deepening, now is the best time to step back and return to core technical principles. He will focus on “agentic core development” and governance work moving forward.

New Leadership Takes Over: Bastian Aue and Hsiao-Wei Wang’s Team Effort

Following Tomasz’s departure, the Ethereum Foundation quickly confirmed the leadership structure during the transition. Bastian Aue will assume his position as interim co-CEO, jointly leading the foundation with Hsiao-Wei Wang.

Aya Miyaguchi (former executive director, now President) stated on X that Bastian Aue has a deep understanding of EF’s unique structure and values, having previously been heavily involved in grant decisions and corporate operations, making him “the most prepared person to take on this role.” Vitalik Buterin also expressed gratitude for Stańczak’s contributions, emphasizing that Tomasz not only improved the foundation’s efficiency but also prompted the organization to seriously consider how AI will reshape blockchain systems. These statements undoubtedly boost community confidence during this turbulent period.

The Next Chapter for the Ethereum Ecosystem: AI, Quantum Resistance, and Layer 2 Collaboration

Despite leadership changes, Ethereum’s technological development continues unabated. According to Tomasz Stańczak, the foundation’s focus for 2026 and beyond is already well defined:

• Merge Roadmap: Launching a unified roadmap integrating LEAN Ethereum and core development to guide coordination over the coming years.
• Quantum Security: Incorporating post-quantum security strategies into protocol roadmaps to prepare for future computational paradigm shifts.
• Decentralized AI: Building dedicated teams to establish standards and experiments for the upcoming “agentic economy.”

These initiatives demonstrate Ethereum’s efforts to solidify its position as the world’s most secure decentralized settlement layer, especially amid the ongoing growth of stablecoins and real-world asset (RWA) activities.

Market Reaction and ETH Price Analysis

Following the announcement of the personnel change, the crypto market showed resilience. As a core asset for value storage and gas fees, ETH’s price did not experience sharp fluctuations and instead rebounded with the broader market.

According to Gate.io data, as of February 14, 2026, ETH was trading at $2,049.93. Its 24-hour trading volume reached $236.6 million, with a market cap of approximately $233.26 billion, maintaining a market share of 9.80%. In the past 24 hours, ETH’s price increased by 5.33%, successfully reclaiming the $2,000 psychological level, with a high of $2,072.97.

Technical Outlook and Future Prospects

From a market cycle perspective, ETH’s current price remains significantly below its all-time high of $4,946.05, but the recent rebound from a low of $1,924.6 indicates solid support below. Gate’s ETH price forecast model suggests that, with macroeconomic improvements and ecosystem narratives advancing, the average price in 2026 is expected around $1,936.98, with potential fluctuations between $1,084.7 and $2,324.37.

Long-term, if Ethereum makes breakthroughs in AI integration and Layer 2 interoperability, combined with potential ETF capital inflows, its price could reach $4,472.13 by 2031. This represents a substantial upside relative to current levels, making the investment case attractive. However, investors should note that market sentiment remains “neutral,” and in the short term, ETH may trade within the support at $1,924.6 and resistance at $2,072.97.

Summary

Tomasz Stańczak’s departure is not an end but a sign that the Ethereum Foundation is shifting from a “crisis reform” phase to a “steady execution” phase. Bastian Aue and Hsiao-Wei Wang inherit a clear roadmap and more efficient internal structure. For users trading on Gate.io, understanding these governance developments can help grasp ETH’s long-term value. While leadership changes are normal, Ethereum’s vision of becoming the global financial infrastructure remains unchanged.