Ethereum Supporters Address Concerns: ‘Markets Will Adjust’

Ethereum leaders counter criticism regarding the network’s direction, asserting its potential for long-term growth.

TORONTO — Ethereum has recently undergone its most important upgrade in over a year, although this accomplishment follows a challenging period for the blockchain. The price of ether (ETH) showed a downward trend, some developers have shifted to competing platforms, and the Ethereum Foundation, responsible for overseeing the project, has faced scrutiny for its lack of coordination and vision.

At the CoinDesk Consensus conference in Toronto, Paul Brody, global blockchain leader at EY and chair of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, alongside Josh Stark from the Ethereum Foundation, presented a hopeful perspective on the future.

Stark emphasized the need for stronger leadership within the ecosystem, highlighting the importance of a clear roadmap and better coordination to address major challenges. He remarked that while Ethereum’s fundamentals are sound, more advocates are needed to convey the positive developments occurring within the ecosystem.

Despite recent difficulties, both Stark and Brody believe Ethereum continues to be the most innovative and future-oriented project in the crypto space. Brody dismissed concerns regarding the foundation’s leadership, praising former executive director Aya Miyaguchi for her impactful tenure, which lasted from 2018 to 2025.

Brody conveyed confidence in Ethereum’s capabilities, asserting that it processes millions of transactions daily at low costs. Changes in leadership were also noted, with Miyaguchi shifting to the position of foundation president and appointing Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stańczak as new co-executive directors.

Despite criticisms surrounding the Ethereum roadmap’s reliance on layer-2 rollups, both leaders defended the strategy, asserting that solving problems is integral to Ethereum’s identity. Stark remarked on Ethereum’s need to present itself more effectively, despite challenges in rivaling well-established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which have mastered their narratives.

Stark concluded with optimism, stating that while markets may fluctuate, they will ultimately reflect the genuine value of Ethereum as users and investors come to recognize its significance.

“The world is going to have an appetite for a slightly more complicated but just as real value proposition.”
“The world is going to have an appetite for a slightly more complicated but just as real value proposition.”