Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Ethereum developer Dankrad Feist has departed the Ethereum Foundation (EF) to join Tempo, a new payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain backed by Stripe and Paradigm. Feist, a key figure known for co-creating Danksharding, aims to leverage Tempo’s platform to pursue ambitious goals in high-scale financial services while maintaining his alignment with Ethereum’s core values. This move, announced on October 17, 2025, marks a significant shift for the prominent blockchain architect.
Feist’s Tenure at Ethereum Foundation
Feist joined the Ethereum Foundation in 2018 as a part-time researcher, quickly gaining recognition for his contributions to Ethereum’s scaling efforts. His most notable work includes the co-creation of Danksharding, a design intended to enhance Ethereum’s Layer 2 scalability. He also proposed EIP-9698, which aimed to significantly increase Ethereum’s gas limit.
His departure is viewed by some within the Ethereum community as a considerable loss, with figures like David Hoffman expressing disappointment. Despite this, Feist has affirmed his continued commitment to Ethereum’s ideals and technical principles.
Tempo’s Vision and Feist’s New Role
Tempo is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain specifically optimized for stablecoin use and high-scale financial applications. The platform is designed to serve major companies such as Anthropic, Deutsche Bank, and Revolut. Feist considers Tempo a strong complement to Ethereum, sharing its permissionless values while offering specialized capabilities for large-scale financial services.
Feist stated that his decision to join Tempo was driven by the opportunity to focus on ambitious payment goals, supported by the development team’s “relentless execution.” His extensive knowledge of Ethereum’s technical ecosystem is expected to be instrumental in improving Tempo’s performance and reach, aligning with the vision of its backers, Stripe and Paradigm.
Continued Connection to Ethereum
Despite his new role, Feist has emphasized his intention to remain involved with the Ethereum community. He highlighted Ethereum’s unique values and technical principles as crucial for the future of decentralized applications. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin acknowledged Feist’s valuable contributions, including Danksharding, and wished him success in his new endeavor.
Feist also suggested that Tempo’s open-source technology could potentially integrate with Ethereum in the future. This indicates a possibility of collaboration between the two platforms, leveraging Feist’s dual engagement.
Outlook for Tempo and Ethereum
Tempo’s future appears promising with strong backing from Stripe and Paradigm, and now the addition of Dankrad Feist’s expertise. His move could bring significant innovations to the platform, particularly in scaling decentralized networks for financial services. This transition may foster new opportunities for collaboration and growth across the broader blockchain ecosystem, benefiting both Tempo and Ethereum.
