CoinEx News: On June 18, former Ethereum Foundation coordinator Trent Van Epps warned that core development — the 10-plus client teams and researchers maintaining Ethereum — risks entering a “slow-burning funding crisis” within three to nine months. He estimated the ecosystem needs roughly $30 million annually to sustain this work. The Client Incentive Program expired in April, while the Foundation continues to reduce its own spending as part of a long-term plan to shrink its role.

Days later, co-executive director Hsiao-Wei Wang resigned — the second to step down in 2026 — adding to leadership turnover concerns. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee quickly pushed back, calling any funding crisis “zero chance” with funding already “secured.” The Foundation retains a substantial treasury, so the real issue is the unsettled model for paying core developers going forward. The public dispute adds fresh sentiment pressure on ETH while the ecosystem searches for sustainable alternatives.