Ethereum's EIP-4844 Upgrade Enhances Data Availability

The Ethereum Protocol team has released an update on their strategic initiatives first announced last June. The report covers progress made over the past year across three key areas: - **Scale L1**: Improvements to Ethereum's base layer performance - **Scale Blobs**: Enhancements to data availability solutions - **Improve UX**: User experience refinements across the network The team is sharing both accomplishments from the previous year and how their strategic thinking has evolved. This follows earlier updates on individual tracks, with the latest focusing on the UX improvements mission. The Protocol initiative represents Ethereum's organized approach to addressing scalability and usability challenges while maintaining decentralization.

The Ethereum Foundation has established a new internal team called **Platform** with a focused mission: deliver the strongest possible Ethereum infrastructure where Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions work together optimally. **Key objectives:** - Position L1 and L2s to better support users and applications - Improve coordination between Ethereum's base layer and scaling solutions - Strengthen the foundation for organizations building on Ethereum This initiative follows the Foundation's June reorganization of research and development teams under the **Protocol** umbrella, which aligned efforts around three strategic goals: Scale L1, Scale Blobs, and Improve UX. The Platform team represents the Foundation's continued evolution in structuring its internal operations to address Ethereum's current technical priorities while maintaining the network's security commitments.

The Ethereum Protocol Studies program returns for 2026 with expanded educational offerings. **New Features:** - Three specialized content tracks: cryptography, lean consensus, and zkEVM - Self-paced learning platform for flexible study - Program launches February 23rd **Getting Started:** Visit [epf.wiki](https://epf.wiki) to access the program materials and begin learning. The initiative continues its mission to make Ethereum protocol development more accessible to newcomers and developers looking to deepen their technical understanding.

**Major leadership change at the Ethereum Foundation** Tomasz Staczak is stepping down from his co-Executive Director role at the Ethereum Foundation, effective end of February 2026. **Key changes:** - Bastian Aue will take over as co-Executive Director - Aue will lead alongside Hsiao-Wei Wang - Staczak expresses optimism about the future for Ethereum builders and the Foundation The transition marks a significant shift in the leadership structure of one of the most influential organizations in the Ethereum ecosystem.

The Ethereum Foundation announced a significant leadership transition today. **Tomasz Staczak is stepping down** from his role as Co-Executive Director after making extensive contributions to the Foundation's mission and operations. **Bastian Aue will step in** to co-lead the organization alongside Hsiao-Wei, marking a new chapter in the Foundation's executive structure. The transition represents a strategic shift in how the Ethereum Foundation will be managed going forward, though specific details about the timing and reasons for the change were not elaborated upon in the announcement.