Eric Conner, a prominent core developer in the Ethereum ecosystem, has announced his departure from the community, citing dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Ethereum Foundation (EF).

He intends to develop AI tools, starting with Freysa.ai, an evolving AI agent.

The situation has escalated, with some community members harassing EF executive director Aya Miyaguchi, which Buterin condemned as 'pure evil.'

Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, commented on the need for well-compensated EF leadership and emphasized that Ethereum's price should be a key performance indicator.

His exit follows an announcement by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin regarding ongoing leadership changes within the EF, where he emphasized his authority over the selection process until a proper board is established.

Conner criticized the EF's leadership for not prioritizing community needs, which he believes are essential for the ecosystem's success, leading to his decision to leave.

In his departure announcement, Conner expressed a desire for leadership that aligns with community values, stating, 'I can no longer dedicate my efforts to Ethereum.'

Following his exit, Conner revealed plans to join Freysa AI, focusing on the intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.

The leadership restructure at the EF comes after a challenging year in 2024, during which the foundation faced criticism over its spending and roadmap goals.

Ethereum is set to launch its Pectra upgrade in March 2025, aimed at improving speed and efficiency.

Buterin has confirmed that significant restructuring within the EF's leadership has been in development for nearly a year, aimed at enhancing technical expertise and supporting app developers.

There are calls from the community, including Conner's support, to promote Danny Ryan, a researcher and developer, to a leadership role within the EF.