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- Ethereum Foundation’s new mandate focuses on privacy, security, open-source development and resistance to centralized control.
- Vitalik Buterin said the network must stay focused on decentralization and censorship resistance, not short-term market trends.
Privacy, security, and decentralization are now formally on paper as the Ethereum Foundation’s guiding commitments under a newly published mandate. The document also states that the Foundation will support Ethereum’s growth without taking direct control of the ecosystem.
The Foundation sought to clarify its role in a network built by developers, validators, researchers, and independent organizations. Ethereum does not rely on a single decision-making body. Because of that structure, the Foundation said its work will remain limited to stewardship, research support, and infrastructure development.
Founder Vitalik Buterin linked the new mandate to Ethereum’s original mission. He said the network must keep its focus on decentralization and censorship resistance instead of shifting toward short-term market demands. That approach keeps Ethereum aligned with its core principles while the broader blockchain sector continues to change.
This is the new EF Mandate.
For many of you, the contents should be no surprise, and a clarification along the lines that we have been going and thinking for the past few months. But the clarification is nevertheless worth making.
Ethereum is a unique object and has a unique… https://t.co/SMGCWnmUk5
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) March 13, 2026
The mandate also introduced the CROPS framework, referring to resistance to capture, open source, privacy, and security. These four points now form the basis for how the Foundation will assess its work and future support across the Ethereum ecosystem.
Another part of the framework is the “walkaway test.” This standard focuses on whether users can still rely on Ethereum without depending on a central institution or trusted gatekeeper. The idea supports the network’s wider goal of giving users access to financial tools and digital services without direct dependence on governments, banks, or large companies.
Previously, Vitalik said Ethereum’s best path to adoption is a global public bulletin board. As CNF reported, this role gives the network utility beyond money and smart contracts.
Buterin Pledges Ethereum’s Long-Term Network Independence
Vitalik Buterin also used the term “sanctuary technology” when discussing Ethereum’s broader purpose. This refers to the network’s pledge to remain open and accessible even when centralized systems fail or restrict access, matching the mandate’s focus on user autonomy and network resilience.
The Foundation also said it will continue funding researchers, developers, and community-led efforts that strengthen Ethereum’s infrastructure. At the same time, governance decisions will remain within the wider ecosystem, rather than under the Foundation’s control.
In February, Vitalik Buterin backed Ethereum’s Strawmap, a multi-year roadmap aimed at faster transactions, privacy, and quantum resistance.
The market reacted positively after the mandate became public. Ethereum price has risen 12% over the last 7 days and trades at $2,250.
