Ethereum recruits top researchers as Joe Lubin backs Ethlabs

Ethereum has added a new independent research organization backed by Joe Lubin, Bitmine, and Sharplink, bringing together five former Ethereum Foundation researchers.

According to an announcement from Ethlabs, the newly launched nonprofit research group has secured support from Bitmine, Sharplink, Anchorage, Octant, SNZ, and other Ethereum ecosystem participants.

The organization did not disclose how much funding it has received.

Founded by former senior Ethereum Foundation researchers Ansgar Dietrichs, Barnabé Monnot, Caspar Schwarz Schilling, Josh Rudolf, and Julian Ma, Ethlabs has been created as an independent institution focused on technical research for the Ethereum network. The group said its work will cover areas including settlement speed, network capacity, native asset issuance, cross-chain interoperability and Ethereum’s monetary design.

The launch comes as Ethereum’s development ecosystem increasingly relies on independent organizations alongside the Ethereum Foundation.

Ethlabs said the structure gives researchers a dedicated home with long-term funding while allowing them to continue working on core protocol issues.

Ethlabs focuses on infrastructure needed by institutions

Among its founding members are researchers who have previously contributed to Ethereum’s work on scaling, finality, data availability, protocol economics, and virtual machine development.

In a statement accompanying the launch, executive director Ansgar Dietrichs said Ethlabs was established to advance Ethereum’s core technology and support infrastructure used by institutions, developers and autonomous AI systems.

“As longtime contributors to the core protocol, we are establishing an independent non-profit organization to advance Ethereum’s core technology and the shared standards and infrastructure builders depend on.”

The organization said its research priorities are tied to growing blockchain activity involving stablecoins, tokenized assets, investment products and AI-driven commerce. According to Ethlabs, improvements in these areas are needed as more financial activity moves onto public blockchain networks.

Commenting on the initiative, Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin said Ethlabs would operate as another stewardship organization alongside the Ethereum Foundation and other independent groups working on Ethereum’s development.

Institutional supporters expand Ethereum commitments

Support from public companies arrives as some corporate backers continue increasing their exposure to Ethereum. As previously reported by crypto.news, Bitmine recently acquired another 52,203 ETH worth approximately $90 million, lifting its holdings to about 4.7% of Ethereum’s total supply.

Addressing the need for additional research investment, Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee said Ethereum could experience substantial adoption from institutions and AI agents, increasing demand for protocol research and technical expertise.

Sharplink CEO Joseph Chalom linked the funding decision to what he described as “the beginning of an institutional supercycle on Ethereum”. According to Chalom, supporting core protocol researchers represents a direct way for the company to contribute to the network’s long-term development.

Despite receiving funding from companies and ecosystem participants, Ethlabs said research decisions will remain independent. Contributions will be handled through an external grants administrator responsible for evaluating, screening, and distributing funds.

Under the structure outlined by Ethlabs, contributors will receive quarterly reporting and annual independent audits, but they will not have authority over research priorities, technical roadmaps, or organizational decisions.